Google data centers shift their computations to cleaner times and locations
Google's carbon-aware computing platform uses forecasts from Electricity Maps to run compute-heavy tasks at times where the grid is cleaner.
Jul 7, 2025
The Challenge
Aligning compute load with low carbon electricity
Addressing the challenge of climate change demands a transformation in how the world produces and uses energy. Google set the goal of operating on 24/7 carbon-free energy – matching its electricity consumption with locally sourced clean energy every hour of every day.
To achieve this, Google's data centers need to work closely with carbon-free energy sources like solar and wind.
The Solution
Shifting flexible loads
Google uses Electricity Maps data to calculate the carbon intensity of the electricity powering Google's data centers. Understanding the CO2 emissions on an hourly basis from each data center allows for data-driven decisions that can reduce emissions and help Google on their path to 24/7 carbon free energy.
To operationalize this, Google's carbon-intelligent platform compares two types of forecasts. One of the forecasts, provided by Electricity Maps, predicts how the average hourly carbon intensity of the local electrical grid will change over the course of a day. A complementary Google internal forecast predicts the hourly power resources that a data center needs to carry out its compute tasks during the same period. Then, Google uses the two forecasts to optimize hour-by-hour guidelines to align compute tasks with times of low-carbon electricity supply.
Flexible loads can also be shifted to different data centers around the world, allowing for data centers to work harder in times and places where clean energy is most readily available. Today, this project allows Google to reduce its carbon footprint by shifting compute loads without negatively impacting the performance or reliability of its services.
The Challenge
Aligning compute load with low carbon electricity
Addressing the challenge of climate change demands a transformation in how the world produces and uses energy. Google set the goal of operating on 24/7 carbon-free energy – matching its electricity consumption with locally sourced clean energy every hour of every day.
To achieve this, Google's data centers need to work closely with carbon-free energy sources like solar and wind.
The Solution
Shifting flexible loads
Google uses Electricity Maps data to calculate the carbon intensity of the electricity powering Google's data centers. Understanding the CO2 emissions on an hourly basis from each data center allows for data-driven decisions that can reduce emissions and help Google on their path to 24/7 carbon free energy.
To operationalize this, Google's carbon-intelligent platform compares two types of forecasts. One of the forecasts, provided by Electricity Maps, predicts how the average hourly carbon intensity of the local electrical grid will change over the course of a day. A complementary Google internal forecast predicts the hourly power resources that a data center needs to carry out its compute tasks during the same period. Then, Google uses the two forecasts to optimize hour-by-hour guidelines to align compute tasks with times of low-carbon electricity supply.
Flexible loads can also be shifted to different data centers around the world, allowing for data centers to work harder in times and places where clean energy is most readily available. Today, this project allows Google to reduce its carbon footprint by shifting compute loads without negatively impacting the performance or reliability of its services.
The Challenge
Aligning compute load with low carbon electricity
Addressing the challenge of climate change demands a transformation in how the world produces and uses energy. Google set the goal of operating on 24/7 carbon-free energy – matching its electricity consumption with locally sourced clean energy every hour of every day.
To achieve this, Google's data centers need to work closely with carbon-free energy sources like solar and wind.
The Solution
Shifting flexible loads
Google uses Electricity Maps data to calculate the carbon intensity of the electricity powering Google's data centers. Understanding the CO2 emissions on an hourly basis from each data center allows for data-driven decisions that can reduce emissions and help Google on their path to 24/7 carbon free energy.
To operationalize this, Google's carbon-intelligent platform compares two types of forecasts. One of the forecasts, provided by Electricity Maps, predicts how the average hourly carbon intensity of the local electrical grid will change over the course of a day. A complementary Google internal forecast predicts the hourly power resources that a data center needs to carry out its compute tasks during the same period. Then, Google uses the two forecasts to optimize hour-by-hour guidelines to align compute tasks with times of low-carbon electricity supply.
Flexible loads can also be shifted to different data centers around the world, allowing for data centers to work harder in times and places where clean energy is most readily available. Today, this project allows Google to reduce its carbon footprint by shifting compute loads without negatively impacting the performance or reliability of its services.
The Challenge
Aligning compute load with low carbon electricity
Addressing the challenge of climate change demands a transformation in how the world produces and uses energy. Google set the goal of operating on 24/7 carbon-free energy – matching its electricity consumption with locally sourced clean energy every hour of every day.
To achieve this, Google's data centers need to work closely with carbon-free energy sources like solar and wind.
The Solution
Shifting flexible loads
Google uses Electricity Maps data to calculate the carbon intensity of the electricity powering Google's data centers. Understanding the CO2 emissions on an hourly basis from each data center allows for data-driven decisions that can reduce emissions and help Google on their path to 24/7 carbon free energy.
To operationalize this, Google's carbon-intelligent platform compares two types of forecasts. One of the forecasts, provided by Electricity Maps, predicts how the average hourly carbon intensity of the local electrical grid will change over the course of a day. A complementary Google internal forecast predicts the hourly power resources that a data center needs to carry out its compute tasks during the same period. Then, Google uses the two forecasts to optimize hour-by-hour guidelines to align compute tasks with times of low-carbon electricity supply.
Flexible loads can also be shifted to different data centers around the world, allowing for data centers to work harder in times and places where clean energy is most readily available. Today, this project allows Google to reduce its carbon footprint by shifting compute loads without negatively impacting the performance or reliability of its services.
"Electricity Maps has been a valuable partner, and their expertise in grid carbon data has provided vital support to our clean energy efforts. We have already learned and achieved a great deal through our collaboration, and we look forward to pursuing more great projects together."
Savannah Goodman, Data and Software Climate Solutions Lead at Google
"Electricity Maps has been a valuable partner, and their expertise in grid carbon data has provided vital support to our clean energy efforts. We have already learned and achieved a great deal through our collaboration, and we look forward to pursuing more great projects together."
Savannah Goodman, Data and Software Climate Solutions Lead at Google
"Electricity Maps has been a valuable partner, and their expertise in grid carbon data has provided vital support to our clean energy efforts. We have already learned and achieved a great deal through our collaboration, and we look forward to pursuing more great projects together."
Savannah Goodman, Data and Software Climate Solutions Lead at Google
"Electricity Maps has been a valuable partner, and their expertise in grid carbon data has provided vital support to our clean energy efforts. We have already learned and achieved a great deal through our collaboration, and we look forward to pursuing more great projects together."
Savannah Goodman, Data and Software Climate Solutions Lead at Google
How It Works
The solution involves:
Carbon Intensity Forecasting: Electricity Maps provides hourly predictions of grid carbon intensity
Internal Power Forecasting: Google predicts data center power needs for compute tasks
Optimization: Combining both forecasts to align computing tasks with low-carbon electricity periods
Global Load Shifting: Moving flexible workloads to data centers where clean energy is most available
Real-time Decision Making: Hour-by-hour optimization without impacting service performance or reliability
Impact
Enables Google to progress toward their 24/7 carbon-free energy goal
Reduces carbon footprint by intelligently timing compute tasks
Maintains service performance and reliability while optimizing for sustainability
Supports global workload distribution based on clean energy availability
We're excited to support Google in their ambitious climate goals, and look forward to our continued collaboration.
Are you ready to reach your sustainability goals? Contact us to learn more about our platform.
How It Works
The solution involves:
Carbon Intensity Forecasting: Electricity Maps provides hourly predictions of grid carbon intensity
Internal Power Forecasting: Google predicts data center power needs for compute tasks
Optimization: Combining both forecasts to align computing tasks with low-carbon electricity periods
Global Load Shifting: Moving flexible workloads to data centers where clean energy is most available
Real-time Decision Making: Hour-by-hour optimization without impacting service performance or reliability
Impact
Enables Google to progress toward their 24/7 carbon-free energy goal
Reduces carbon footprint by intelligently timing compute tasks
Maintains service performance and reliability while optimizing for sustainability
Supports global workload distribution based on clean energy availability
We're excited to support Google in their ambitious climate goals, and look forward to our continued collaboration.
Are you ready to reach your sustainability goals? Contact us to learn more about our platform.
How It Works
The solution involves:
Carbon Intensity Forecasting: Electricity Maps provides hourly predictions of grid carbon intensity
Internal Power Forecasting: Google predicts data center power needs for compute tasks
Optimization: Combining both forecasts to align computing tasks with low-carbon electricity periods
Global Load Shifting: Moving flexible workloads to data centers where clean energy is most available
Real-time Decision Making: Hour-by-hour optimization without impacting service performance or reliability
Impact
Enables Google to progress toward their 24/7 carbon-free energy goal
Reduces carbon footprint by intelligently timing compute tasks
Maintains service performance and reliability while optimizing for sustainability
Supports global workload distribution based on clean energy availability
We're excited to support Google in their ambitious climate goals, and look forward to our continued collaboration.
Are you ready to reach your sustainability goals? Contact us to learn more about our platform.
How It Works
The solution involves:
Carbon Intensity Forecasting: Electricity Maps provides hourly predictions of grid carbon intensity
Internal Power Forecasting: Google predicts data center power needs for compute tasks
Optimization: Combining both forecasts to align computing tasks with low-carbon electricity periods
Global Load Shifting: Moving flexible workloads to data centers where clean energy is most available
Real-time Decision Making: Hour-by-hour optimization without impacting service performance or reliability
Impact
Enables Google to progress toward their 24/7 carbon-free energy goal
Reduces carbon footprint by intelligently timing compute tasks
Maintains service performance and reliability while optimizing for sustainability
Supports global workload distribution based on clean energy availability
We're excited to support Google in their ambitious climate goals, and look forward to our continued collaboration.
Are you ready to reach your sustainability goals? Contact us to learn more about our platform.
