Meta has significantly expanded its renewable energy holdings, confirming a deal to acquire 650 megawatts of additional solar capacity across new projects in Kansas and Texas. This latest agreement, announced Thursday, underscores the company’s ongoing efforts to support the increased energy demands from its expanding artificial intelligence-driven data centers.
AES, a prominent American utility and power generation provider, is behind the development of these solar projects. According to AES, the new installations will comprise 400 megawatts in Texas and an additional 250 megawatts located in Kansas.
This latest acquisition adds to Meta’s substantial renewable energy portfolio, which currently exceeds 12 gigawatts in total capacity. The company has entered into several solar power contracts this year, all primarily concentrated in Texas. Previously announced agreements in the state include a sizable 595-megawatt project, another substantial 505-megawatt facility, and two additional solar farms clocking in at 200 megawatts each.
Texas has swiftly emerged as a leader in the solar energy sector, consistently topping national rankings in new solar capacity over both 2023 and 2024. Factors accelerating growth in the state’s solar market include abundant sunlight, expedited permitting processes, and streamlined grid connection procedures. These elements contribute significantly to reduced construction timelines for new solar farms—allowing projects to go from conception to operational status within months, rather than years.
Solar energy also boasts considerable economic advantages. Even before accounting for subsidies and tax incentives, solar has become one of the most economically viable options for new power generation, attracting major corporations like Meta keen on efficiency, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
Additionally, large-scale solar deployments offer flexibility for phased construction, enabling power generation to commence incrementally, even before the completion of entire sites. Highlighting these specific attractions, AES CEO Andrés Gluski emphasized solar power’s rapid deployment and low electricity cost as decisive factors gaining the attention of major technology players like Meta.
