According to Google's 2026 environmental report, the company's electricity consumption has increased by over 250% since 2019, driven by rapid expansion of data centers supporting AI, Google Cloud, Search, YouTube, and other digital services.
Google states that electricity consumption rose from around 12 terawatt-hours in 2019 to approximately 43 TWh (terawatt-hours) in 2025.
The report shows that electricity consumption increased by 37% in 2025 alone compared to the previous year, marking the highest year-over-year growth in company history.
Google attributes the need for more powerful data centers to increased demand for AI and cloud computing systems.
The company notes that while it continues to invest in clean energy and more efficient infrastructure, the rapid expansion of AI technology poses greater challenges to its long-term sustainability goals.
Ref: Technology Innovation
