How green is Big Tech?

Big Tech is buying huge amounts of renewable electricity to power data centres and the push for AI, but how green is that power really? And could changes to the rules governing corporate green energy claims transform Europe's Guarantees of Origin market?

This week on Plugged In, we explore proposed changes to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol —  a widely used international accounting standard for measuring and managing greenhouse gas emissions —  including a shift towards matching renewable electricity more closely to when and where it's consumed.

We examine the different approaches taken by major tech companies (such as Google and Amazon), the potential winners and losers from hourly matching, and what more granular certificates could mean for GO prices, trading, batteries and renewable investment.

With resistance to tighter standards growing, we also ask whether the market is ready for such a fundamental shift — and how quickly these changes could become reality.

Host: Snjólfur Richard Sverrisson – Editor-in-Chief, Montel News

Guests:

Nathan Witkop – Clean Energy Editor, Montel News

Daniel Arnesson – Manager Renewable Power Certificates Analysis, Veyt

Killian Daly – Executive Director, EnergyTag

Editor: Alexandra Carlon

Producer: Alexandra Carlon