Microsoft and Google, two of the world’s largest technology companies, consume more electricity than many countries.
A recent study reveals that in 2023, Google and Microsoft together used 24 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, surpassing the energy consumption of over 100 countries.
The study highlights that Google and Microsoft’s energy use matches that of Azerbaijan, which has a GDP of $78.7 billion. In comparison, Google’s annual revenue in 2023 was $307 billion, while Microsoft earned $211 billion in the same period.
To put this in perspective, Iceland, Ghana, and Tunisia each use 19 TWh of electricity annually, and Jordan uses 20 TWh. Meanwhile, Libya consumes 25 TWh, and Slovakia uses 26 TWh.
This comparison underscores the immense energy demands of large corporations. The data centers of these companies significantly contribute to environmental pollution, and the increasing use of artificial intelligence technology further boosts electricity consumption.
Both Microsoft and Google have pledged to adopt environmentally friendly energy practices by the end of this decade and are actively investing in sustainable energy solutions.
