While Google is first and foremost a technology company, it has become more and more embedded in the energy sector in recent years. As one of the world’ s largest, most ubiquitous enterprises, its consumption of energy is almost unfathomably large.

In fact, according to a 2024 analysis by journalist Michael Thomas, Google’ s annual power consumption is higher than more than half the world’ s countries. As such, the US-based company has made energy a central part of its business, often tussling with Amazon to be the global economy’ s largest corporate buyer of renewable energy.

But power purchase agreements( PPAs) aren’ t the only involvement Google has with the energy sector. Lately, the firm has become increasingly involved in modernising power grids.

It recently agreed terms to one such project with US-based energy supplier, Voltus. The initiative will see the two companies work together to improve the efficiency of the PJM Interconnection grid, which spans 13 US states from the mid-Atlantic coast to the Midwest.

Google’ s plan for the US’ s largest power grid The PJM grid is the largest electricity system in the US, serving around 67 million people today. However, like most power systems the world over,

94 September 2026

Energy Digital September 2026 | Page 94

While Google is first and foremost a technology company, it has become more and more embedded in the energy sector in recent years. As one of the world’ s largest, most ubiquitous enterprises, its consumption of energy is almost unfathomably large.