Amazon has announced a major investment in carbon-free energy projects in Nevada, designed to support its upcoming data centre operations in the Reno region. The initiative will add 700 megawatts (MW) of new clean energy capacity to the local grid—the equivalent of powering more than 222,000 U.S. homes—utilising a mix of solar, battery storage, and the company’s first foray into dedicated geothermal power.
The projects are being developed in collaboration with local utility NV Energy and include 100 MW of geothermal power from Zanskar, alongside 600 MW of solar and 600 MW of battery storage from Primergy.
A significant highlight of the announcement is the inclusion of geothermal energy, which harnesses the Earth’s internal heat to provide a constant, “firm” power supply. Unlike solar or wind, which are variable, geothermal offers a stable source of carbon-free electricity that operates 24/7.
This marks the first time an Amazon data centre will be powered in part by dedicated geothermal energy. The company indicated it sees substantial potential for the technology as a scalable, reliable component of its global energy strategy.
The 600 MW solar-plus-storage component is designed to address the specific reliability requirements of high-capacity data centres. By pairing solar panels with an equal amount of battery storage, the system can capture excess energy during daylight hours and dispatch it during peak demand or after sunset.
This “around-the-clock” reliability is essential for data centre operations and provides much-needed capacity to the broader Nevada grid, helping to stabilise the energy supply for all residents.
To ensure that the regional transition to clean energy does not financially burden the local community, Amazon has confirmed it will cover all costs associated with the new infrastructure. This includes the expenses for both energy generation and the necessary grid upgrades, ensuring that these costs are not passed on to Nevada’s residential or business utility customers.
These Nevada-based projects contribute to Amazon’s massive global renewable energy portfolio, which now exceeds 700 projects totaling over 40 gigawatts.
“These investments don’t just power Amazon’s operations—they add new sources of carbon-free energy to the grid that everyone relies on,” the company stated, noting that increasing the supply of clean energy helps keep electricity costs stable and affordable for families and businesses in the long term.
