ZEROgrid: A Dependable, Cost-Effective, Low-Emission Power System
Akamai is focusing on harnessing the power of Akamai Connected Cloud to create a sustainable and equitable future for the world. As a sustainability professional at Akamai, I remain optimistic about the strides we’ve taken and our approach to curbing global emissions. It gives me a sense of hope to see the positive impact that our work is having on the environment.
However, we know that there is still much to be done. With the world placing a more substantial focus on climate change, it is clear that we need to work with like-minded companies, grid operators, and organizations to help achieve a dependable, affordable, and environmentally friendly energy system.
As we continue to see the real-world effects of climate change — such as the planet's hottest day recorded on record — we recognize the need to shift now and look for actionable ways to collaborate with customers, partners, stakeholders, and even competitors to bring about the necessary change the planet desperately needs.
A new initiative
To achieve this goal of continuity across the electricity grid, Akamai, in conjunction with some of the world's most distinguished corporations, including General Motors, Meta, Prologis, Salesforce, and Walmart, have partnered with RMI to introduce the ZEROgrid Initiative.
Now is the time to accelerate the transition to zero-emissions
This collective endeavor aims to develop a comprehensive roadmap that accelerates the transition to a zero-emissions electricity system — one that preserves the power grid’s dependability while also striving to diminish harmful emissions released into the environment.
Under ZEROGrid, we will collaborate to overcome today’s most demanding power grid challenges. Collectively, we will explore innovative, technologically advanced, and imaginative solutions to move toward a reliable, affordable, and decarbonized future.
The larger goal: Decarbonize the power grid
Our goal with ZEROgrid is to encourage all companies to invest in environmentally impactful work while establishing clear standards for measuring success. By working together as part of a larger initiative, we aim to achieve the ambitious goal of decarbonizing the power grid through a more comprehensive approach.
RMI is catalyzing rapid, market-based change in the world's most critical geographies. Working with RMI will enable corporations — alongside emissions-focused non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and delivery partners — to take meaningful and consistent actions across various areas, including clean energy procurement, policy, investment, research, development, and operations.
ZEROgrid will have a significant impact by promoting corporate investment in a broader range of initiatives that improve grid decarbonization and reliability while also defining measurable standards for progress.
Three key areas of focus
Through this initiative, we will kick this work off by concentrating our efforts on three key areas:
Scalable action
System impact
Policy change
Scalable action
First, we will aim to achieve scalable action by collaborating with incumbent accounting and metrics standards versus competing with them.
We will pursue simple, additive solutions that recognize leadership for meaningful environmental action. It is vital to maintain accessibility while broadening impact by creating valuable open source content and working hand-in-hand with our partners to formalize our findings.
System impact
As part of our strategy for addressing system impact, we are committed to identifying and implementing best practices for procurement that promote system decarbonization. To this end, we will focus on supporting grid operators to overcome the challenges associated with accelerating the build-out of grid infrastructure that’s focused on reliability and affordability.
We will also explore new procurement strategies that can expand the availability of clean power to enhance the system's overall reliability. We recognize that we need to form a sustainable and resilient system that can meet the needs of all stakeholders, both now and in the future.
Policy change
Finally, our combined approach to policy change and advocacy will help us set precedents in policy and regulations. To achieve this objective, we will coordinate our efforts to identify which engagement priorities will benefit most from ZEROgrid resource investments.
We will apply the lessons learned from our regulatory engagements in the European Union and the United States to voluntary actions globally to work toward building an equitable and sustainable future for everyone.
Taking action to reduce emissions — together
Being a part of the ZEROgrid initiative is truly an honor for me as a sustainability professional at Akamai. It is incredibly inspiring to witness the efforts of these world-class companies to collaborate across industries toward a common goal of achieving a sustainable, zero-emissions grid.
Climate change is real. It is a significant issue, and it cannot be overstated just how vital it is to take concrete action to reduce emissions within this decade. Seeing us come together under the leadership of ZEROgrid is heartening, and it gives me a reason to be optimistic about the future of our planet.
Learn more
Interested in learning more or joining Akamai in the ZEROgrid initiative? Every organization can contribute to this work, regardless of size or industry, and help make a difference. Reach out to us to learn more.
