What if every hour of electricity you used was powered by clean energy? That’s the vision of 24×7 carbon-free energy: every kilowatt-hour consumed is matched with renewable generation in the same hour. Unlike traditional renewable targets that balance clean energy on a yearly basis, 24×7 CFE means every unit of electricity you consume is matched with green generation within the same hour.
Every kilowatt-hour is accounted for, every claim verified. It is a fundamental shift in how we source, track, and trust the energy that powers our world.
Moving from annual claims to hourly truth
For years, companies have celebrated “100% renewable” milestones based on annual energy balancing. They purchase Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) to offset electricity demand from non-renewable sources, which certify that a specific volume of energy has been generated by a renewable source during times of abundance. While this has driven investment in clean generation, it does not tell us if that renewable power was available at the same time and in the location (or even the grid) where the energy was consumed. When the sun sets or the wind calms, fossil fuels often step in to fill the gap.
As a result, even companies that claim 100% renewable energy can still be linked to carbon emissions because grid electricity is mixed and undifferentiated. The gap between when renewable power is generated and when energy is actually consumed creates this mismatch.
24×7 carbon-free energy changes the conversation. It aligns clean generation with consumption on an hourly, even sub-hourly basis. It is a more honest and more impactful measure of decarbonisation. This approach is not just symbolic, it builds demand signals that enable suppliers to invest in dispatchable clean technologies needed for reliability, and it can ensure that consumption is truly carbon-free.
According to an Eurelectric report, the manufacturing and banking sectors are checking the feasibility of 24×7 multi-year supply contracts to demonstrate credible decarbonisation. Retail and real estate companies are seeking partnerships for pilots to apply hourly matching, signalling a wider shift toward credible, round-the-clock clean power commitments.
In India, research by Transition Zero, a UK-based climate analytics non-profit, shows that moving to genuine 24×7 clean energy could save grid operators around 1B USD every year from 2030. The savings come from reduced curtailment, better demand management, and a more balanced grid. In a country where electricity demand is expected to soar, this is an economic opportunity.
AI’s hunger for power
At the same time, electricity demand is soaring, driven in large part by the rapid growth of artificial intelligence. Big Tech is set to spend more than 300 billion dollars this year, much of it fueling this surge. As AI expands, hyperscale data centers are being built, each individual facility likely to consume between 20 and 100 megawatts. S&P Global estimates that global electricity demand from data centers could more than double to 945 TWh by 2030, about the same as Japan’s current total power consumption. Data centers could drive 12% of total US electricity demand by 2028.
What if every hour of electricity you used was powered by clean energy? That’s the vision of 24×7 carbon-free energy: every kilowatt-hour consumed is matched with renewable generation in the same hour. Unlike traditional renewable targets that balance clean energy on a yearly basis, 24×7 CFE means every unit of electricity you consume is matched with green generation within the same hour.
Every kilowatt-hour is accounted for, every claim verified. It is a fundamental shift in how we source, track, and trust the energy that powers our world.
Image source: Energy and AI Observatory Report by IEA
Energy has moved to the forefront of the AI conversation. It is now one of the defining factors in how quickly and sustainably AI can grow. Against this backdrop, Google signed its first off-shore wind deal with Fengmiao I in Asia Pacific for 24×7 Carbon Free Energy. In 2027, the project will have a capacity of 495 Megawatts.
Data center experts note that hyperscalers typically operate at 80 to 95 percent capacity utilization, with each facility consuming between 20 and 100 megawatts or more. Europe’s demand for data centers is projected to reach around 35 GW by 2030.
Even a 10 percent change in power demand across five 1 Gigawatt data centers can equal the output of a large gas-fired plant. The requirement for uninterrupted uptime makes reliable power non-negotiable, but it also puts immense pressure on the grid. In regions where the grid can’t keep pace, data centers may have to balance their own power needs.
As AI adoption accelerates, meeting its energy needs will require a lot of power from every possible source. Renewable energy is the fastest to deploy, but their intermittency remains a central challenge. Tackling this mismatch between when clean energy is generated and when it is consumed will be critical to powering AI sustainably.
This is where platforms like Powerledger come into play. As data centers push the limits of grid reliability and energy availability, the ability to match clean energy supply with demand on an hourly basis becomes critical.
Blockchain: The trust engine for 24×7 clean energy
Platforms like Powerledger use blockchain to deliver near real-time transparency and trust.
For consumers such as corporations, this means being able to see the exact origin and carbon profile of their electricity in near real time. For retailers, it opens up the ability to offer products that are verified to be clean on an hourly basis. For network and market operators, it provides granular data and visibility of demand and supply as well as the emissions profile in their electricity network, paving the way for creating smarter 24×7 energy systems.
It creates an immutable, tamper-proof record of:
- When and where energy was generated
- When and where it was consumed
Powerledger’s blockchain-based energy tracking and trading platform enables near real-time, granular matching of customers’ electricity load profiles with supply available at the time of demand. This empowers smarter energy procurement decisions, such as determining the optimal timing and partners for Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) based on location and time of generation and demand. It creates an incentive for distributed renewable energy projects in proximity to actual demand, increasing system efficiency.
The platform helps identify hourly gaps between your energy consumption and the production from your contracted sources. You can then close these gaps by purchasing granular Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) for the hours not covered.
As a result, consumers are assured to utilise round-the-clock zero-carbon electricity, contributing to an energy system where demand and renewable supply are fully matched.
The power of smart energy data
As power grids hit their limits and new connections take years to build, data centers will need fresh energy solutions. Companies across the data center sector are using many different instruments and approaches to manage their carbon accounting, including unbundled and time-matched RECs, PPAs, carbon matching, offsets, CO2 removals, and accreditation activities.
Clean energy matching is only as good as the data behind it. With smart meters data and advanced analytics, we can measure generation and consumption at the level of detail needed to truly align them. This data also makes it possible to reward flexibility, encourage storage, and shift demand to times when clean energy is plentiful.
Moving to 24×7 carbon-free energy is about more than technology. It is about trust. It is about removing the ambiguity from clean energy claims and replacing it with evidence. It strengthens our grids, reduces costs, empowers consumers, and accelerates the shift to a sustainable future. The tools exist today. The will to adopt them will define the credibility of our commitments and the resilience of our energy systems in the years ahead.
If you’re looking for Powerledger, you’re already thinking about the future of energy. Our blockchain-backed platform gives you the tools to track, trade, and trace energy, helping you deliver on your 24×7 sustainability commitments.
