Meta Platforms Inc., the owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with renewable energy developer MN8 Energy LLC. Under the deal, the tech giant will buy 100% of the electricity generated by MN8’s 80 megawatt (MW) Walker Solar Project in Juniata County, Pennsylvania. The agreement marks the first direct clean-energy contract between the two companies.

Meta will use solar power to help supply electricity to its data centers in the United States. The project is scheduled to begin operations by the end of 2026.

The Walker Solar project will supply power to the PJM Interconnection grid. This grid is the biggest wholesale electricity market in the U.S. It serves over 65 million people in 13 states and Washington, D.C.

Urvi Parekh, Director of Global Energy at Meta, said:

“We are thrilled to partner with MN8 ​Energy​ to bring new renewable energy to Pennsylvania and help support our operations with 100% clean energy.”

Inside the 80 MW Walker Solar Deal

The solar facility will generate about 80 MW of clean electricity when complete. Under the PPA, Meta will acquire all of the project’s output.

The agreement is a long-term contract. Meta will buy renewable power from MN8 Energy for years. This will help meet part of its data center electricity demand with clean energy.

MN8 Energy, a New York-based renewable energy and battery storage company, will develop and build the solar plant. It has about 4 GW of operational and under-construction solar projects nationwide. The company also operates 1.1 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery capacity and over 40 high-power EV charging stations in the U.S.

The Walker Solar project will supply energy to the regional grid and create local jobs during construction. It will also generate tax revenue for Juniata County and strengthen local energy infrastructure.

Powering AI Growth With Long-Term Solar

Meta has set a clear long-term climate goal. The company aims to reach net-zero emissions across its full value chain by 2030. This includes direct operations and supply chain emissions.

The tech giant has matched 100% of its global electricity use with clean and renewable energy since 2020. This covers its offices and data centers. To support this goal, Meta has helped add nearly 29 gigawatts (GW) of new clean energy capacity to power grids worldwide.

Since 2021, Meta reports that its renewable energy procurement has helped reduce emissions by 23.8 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e). These reductions come from large-scale wind and solar projects tied to long-term power purchase agreements.

However, electricity demand continues to grow. Meta’s data centers are expanding to support artificial intelligence and digital services. The company notes that rising data center demand makes decarbonization more complex, even as renewable energy use increases.

Meta aims to go further. It wants to reach net zero across its full value chain by 2030. This means not only its own operations (Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions) but also the emissions tied to its suppliers, hardware, and products (Scope 3). Scope 3 emissions, which are about 8.15 million metric tons of CO2e, account for 99% of its total carbon footprint.

As of its latest report, 48% of its suppliers — based on emissions contribution — have set science-aligned emissions reduction targets. These supplier commitments are critical because Scope 3 emissions make up a large share of Meta’s total carbon footprint.

• The company has also set a goal to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 42% by 2031, using 2021 as a baseline year.

Meta’s sustainability reports also show that electricity use remains central to its climate strategy. Since using 100% renewable energy in operations, Meta has helped avoid millions of tons of CO₂ emissions.

• SEE MORE: Meta and Zelestra Expand Solar Partnership as Data Center Power Demand Surges

Beyond Carbon Emissions: Biggest Clean Energy Buyer

Beyond carbon reductions, Meta includes water and biodiversity in its ESG strategy. Since 2017, Meta has supported more than 40 water restoration projects.

In 2024 alone, these projects helped restore over 1.6 billion gallons of water in regions facing high or medium water stress. The company has committed to becoming water positive by 2030, meaning it plans to restore more water than it consumes.

The Facebook owner also supports biodiversity near its facilities. It has allocated more than 4,000 acres of land, over half of its owned data center campus footprint, for habitat protection and restoration using native species.

In addition, Meta invests in voluntary carbon removal. The company funds projects designed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to address emissions that are difficult to eliminate. It also works with industry groups and government initiatives to help scale high-quality carbon removal markets.

A recent BloombergNEF report highlights Meta’s role in large-scale corporate clean energy procurement. The tech company was the biggest corporate clean energy buyer in 2025. They signed over 10 GW in power purchase agreements (PPAs).

It also found that Meta and its peers, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, accounted for nearly half of all corporate clean energy deals last year. This demonstrates Meta’s influence in driving new renewable capacity online.

These efforts show Meta is combining financial power with sustainability action. The Walker Solar PPA helps the tech giant meet the fast-growing electricity needs from its data centers and AI workloads. Data centers use a lot of power. Using renewables can help meet this demand and reduce carbon emissions from grid electricity.

New Solar Capacity Strengthens the PJM Grid

The solar project will deliver clean power into the PJM Interconnection market. PJM coordinates electricity flow across a broad region of the U.S. and manages one of the most complex power systems in North America.

Adding new generation capacity like Walker Solar contributes to grid resilience and supports broader decarbonization goals. Solar generation helps offset older fossil-fuel plants as they retire or reduce output.

Experts say utility-scale solar is key. As more sectors electrify, the demand for electricity keeps rising. More solar capacity means steady, low-carbon energy when the sun is out, which helps reduce overall system emissions.

The Walker Solar project is part of a larger trend in U.S. solar growth. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) says 2026 will bring a record increase in utility-scale solar capacity. Over 40 GW is set to be added, marking a big jump from previous years.

Big Tech’s Expanding PPA Playbook

Meta’s solar PPA with MN8 reflects a broader trend in corporate renewable procurement. Many large technology companies have signed long-term deals to secure clean electricity for their operations.

Beyond Meta, firms like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft also regularly enter into PPAs for new solar and wind projects. These companies made up almost half of all corporate clean energy deals in 2025, based on market analysis.

Long-term solar PPAs give companies a way to lock in clean power at predictable costs. They also help developers secure financing for new projects, since a contracted buyer reduces risk for lenders and investors.

These corporate procurement strategies go beyond purchasing renewable energy certificates (RECs). They involve direct contracts tied to specific solar or wind projects. This practice supports actual builds of new clean capacity rather than shifting existing output on paper.

The Next Wave of Data Center Decarbonization

The Meta–MN8 Energy solar agreement highlights a shift in how major tech companies meet their clean energy goals. Long-term PPAs like this one are becoming a key tool for corporate decarbonization.

Analysts believe major data center operators will keep growing their PPA portfolios. This is due to increased electricity demand and investor expectations for ESG. This trend could help accelerate the broader deployment of solar and wind generation across the U.S. power system.

As the landscape changes, data center operators and renewable developers may look into hybrid solutions, which could mix solar power with battery storage, microgrids, and demand response systems. This approach aims to provide reliable, low-carbon power all day long.

• READ MORE: Meta, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft Dominate Clean Energy Deals as Global Buying Slips in 2025

The post Meta Strikes 80 MW Solar Deal to Power Data Centers and Cut Carbon Impact appeared first on Carbon Credits.

The LEGO Group announced a new investment of DKK 18 million, or about $2.8 million, into carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects. This funding adds to an earlier DKK 19 million, or about $2.6 million, commitment made in February 2025. These two amounts are separate. They support different groups of projects under LEGO’s expanding carbon removal portfolio.

LEGO has now invested about DKK 54 million, or $8–8.5 million, in carbon removal initiatives across eight projects. The company says these investments help it reach its goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The toymaker emphasizes that it prioritizes cutting emissions within its own operations and supply chain first. It views carbon removal as a complementary tool for emissions that are difficult to eliminate.

Annette Stube, Chief Sustainability Officer at the LEGO Group, said:

“This purchase highlights our commitment to testing a broad range of credible pathways for nature and tech-based carbon removal. As the programme expands, it is helping to strengthen our understanding of different approaches and inform future decision-making on how carbon removal may complement our wider climate goals. While reducing emissions in our own operations remains our priority, this programme allows us to work with expert partners and contribute to solutions that may help scale effective climate action over time.”

Climate Experts Driving LEGO’s Carbon Removal

LEGO works with two specialist partners: Climate Impact Partners and ClimeFi.

Climate Impact Partners helps design and deliver nature-based carbon removal projects. ClimeFi focuses on engineered and technology-based removal solutions. These partnerships allow LEGO to support a mix of short-term and long-term carbon storage pathways.

The 2025 investment supports four projects, including biochar, enhanced rock weathering, and reforestation. The 2026 investment supports four additional projects. Together, they form a diversified carbon removal portfolio.

Nature-Based Carbon Removal: Forest Restoration in Mexico

One of the four new projects funded by the 2026 investment is a big reforestation effort in Quintana Roo State, Mexico. This project:

• Restores more than 14,000 hectares of degraded tropical forests.
• Includes native tree planting, species recovery, fire prevention, and community forest management.
• Allocates over 20% of the budget to local job creation and income generation.
• Bringing biodiversity benefits and supporting ecosystems for native wildlife.

This initiative is delivered through Climate Impact Partners in collaboration with Canopia Carbon. It adds to LEGO’s earlier help for reforestation in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (USA). These forest projects remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as trees grow and store it in biomass and soil.

Nature-based removal projects often provide co-benefits. These include biodiversity protection, watershed improvements, and community income. However, they can face risks such as fire or land-use change. Long-term monitoring and strong governance are, therefore, critical.

Engineered Carbon Removal Technologies: From Biomass to Marine CDR

The other three 2026 projects involve emerging CDR technologies managed by ClimeFi:

• Biomass Geological Storage: Uses slurry injection to store carbon-rich organic waste deep underground.
• Mineralization: Transforms CO₂ into manufactured limestone using reactive waste materials that can serve as building inputs.
• Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal: Enhances wastewater alkalinity to remove CO₂ and store it durably in ocean water.

LEGO invests in various pathways to gain hands-on experience with new solutions. These approaches have different durability profiles. This means they store CO₂ for different lengths of time and may also scale in various ways.

Engineered carbon removal often offers higher durability than many nature-based solutions. In some cases, storage can last hundreds to thousands of years. However, these technologies are still developing and can be expensive in the early stages.

LEGO chooses to try various pathways to understand costs, scalability, durability, and verification standards in the carbon removal market. It also aligns with its net-zero goals.

Net-Zero in Motion: LEGO’s Dual Approach to Emissions

The LEGO Group has committed to a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050. This target covers its full value chain, including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. LEGO’s near-term targets are validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

The toymaker has committed to reducing absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 37% by 2032 from a 2019 baseline. It also aims to reduce absolute Scope 3 emissions by 37% within the same timeframe. These targets align with limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

LEGO’s FY2024 Sustainability Statement says the company’s greenhouse gas emissions were around 1.7 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e).

While the statement does not yet include a full breakdown of emissions for that year, the most recent publicly disclosed data (for 2023) show that LEGO’s total emissions were about 1.82 million tCO₂ equivalent. In that year:

• Scope 1 (direct emissions) were approximately 23,403 tCO₂e.
• Scope 2 (purchased energy) was very low — effectively 1 tCO₂e when using market‑based accounting due to renewable energy matching.
• Scope 3 (value chain emissions) accounted for about 1.80 million tCO₂e, representing roughly 99 % of total emissions.

The dominance of Scope 3 is consistent with LEGO’s industry profile:

Most emissions arise from materials, manufacturing by suppliers, transport, and end‑of‑life impacts, rather than from the company’s own direct operations. Scope 1 and 2 emissions accounted for roughly 1% of total emissions.

LEGO says it uses 100% renewable electricity for its operations. This comes from on-site solar panels and renewable energy certificates. The company first matched 100% of its electricity use with renewable energy generation in 2017.

In 2024, LEGO also reported progress in sustainable materials purchasing, which indirectly contributes to reduced emissions. About 47 % of the materials purchased to make LEGO elements were certified via mass balance principles. This translates to an estimated average of 33 % renewable sources in raw materials.

Half of all purchased materials were produced with sustainable sources. The same goes for its packaging materials, where 93% were from paper.

• RELATED: LEGO Bets Bold on Renewable Resin Bricks Amid Massive Revenue Growth

LEGO recognises that carbon removal projects are not a substitute for reducing emissions. They see CDR as a helpful tool. It targets emissions that are tough to fully eliminate.

Investing in both nature-based and technology-based removals allows the company to:

• Understand emerging solutions.
• Gain practical insight into quality, cost, and permanence.
• Build relationships with expert partners.
• Support broader climate goals beyond its own footprint.

LEGO’s climate disclosures stress that the company prioritizes operational cuts first. The company engages suppliers. It uses low-carbon materials and boosts energy efficiency. It also expands renewable energy in its value chain.

The company uses its CDR portfolio to guide future decisions, which helps scale effective climate action while focusing on reducing emissions. Their main goal is to achieve net zero by 2050.

Carbon Removal in Corporate Net-Zero Strategies

Carbon dioxide removal is becoming more important in corporate climate strategies. McKinsey & Company says that by mid-century, the world may need billions of tons of carbon removal each year to reach net-zero.

McKinsey estimates that the CDR market could grow to between $40 billion and $80 billion per year by 2030. By 2050, the market could reach $300 billion to $1.2 trillion annually if scaled to climate targets.

Many climate models show that even aggressive emission cuts may leave 10% to 20% of emissions hard to eliminate. Carbon removal can help address these residual emissions.

Corporate demand plays a key role in building supply. Early buyers send price and volume signals that support project financing. Frontier and other groups have promised to spend hundreds of millions on future carbon removal credits. Members include major technology and consulting firms such as Google, McKinsey, and H&M Group.

Despite growth, current global carbon removal capacity remains far below what climate science suggests is needed. High-quality projects require strong measurement, reporting, and verification systems. Standards continue to evolve across voluntary carbon marke.

Learning and Leading: LEGO’s Early-Mover Advantage in CDR

LEGO’s total DKK 54 million commitment represents a learning strategy as much as a climate contribution. The company gains experience in evaluating project quality, permanence, and social impact. It also builds relationships in a fast-developing sector.

The company’s approach reflects a broader shift among multinational firms. Many now test different removal methods while continuing to reduce direct emissions. This dual strategy helps companies prepare for future regulatory frameworks and stakeholder expectations.

As the global carbon removal market expands, early investments like these help improve project standards, scale innovation, and attract more capital. The sector still faces cost and scalability challenges. But corporate participation provides one pathway to accelerate development.

LEGO’s CDR investments show a steady expansion of the company’s carbon removal portfolio. They also reveal how major consumer brands are integrating carbon removal into long-term climate strategies while continuing to prioritize emissions reduction.

• READ MORE: The Carbon Credit Market in 2025 is A Turning Point: What Comes Next for 2026 and Beyond?

The post LEGO Expands Carbon Removal Portfolio with $2.8M Investment for Net-Zero Goals appeared first on Carbon Credits.

Copper has re-entered the spotlight. Prices on the London Metal Exchange surged to a record $14,527.50 per metric ton on January 29 and continue to hover above $13,000. That rally did not happen by chance. Instead, it reflects a powerful mix of AI-driven demand, tight global supply, and rising geopolitical risk.

Today, copper sits at the center of the electrification and digital revolution. From AI data centers and electric vehicles to renewable power grids and defense systems, the red metal powers it all. As a result, investors, miners, and manufacturers are repositioning for what many now call a structural copper deficit.

AI and Electrification Are Redefining Copper Demand

The global critical minerals market is entering a new phase. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the sector could grow two to three times by 2040. That expansion may require between $500 billion and $600 billion in new capital investment.

Electric vehicles need roughly four times more copper than traditional combustion cars. Wind turbines and solar farms require vast cabling networks. Meanwhile, grid upgrades demand heavy copper wiring to handle rising electricity loads.

AI-powered hyperscale data centers consume enormous amounts of copper for power distribution, cooling systems, and grounding infrastructure. A single large AI facility can require up to 50,000 metric tons of copper. That is three to four times more than a conventional data center.

J.P. Morgan estimates that copper demand from data centers alone could reach around 475,000 metric tons in 2026. That represents an annual increase of about 110,000 tons.

• S&P Global study projects that global copper demand will grow from 28 million metric tons a year in 2025 to 42 million metric tons by 2040 – an increase of 50% above current levels.

Major tech players are already securing supply. In January, Amazon Web Services signed a two-year agreement with Rio Tinto to purchase domestically produced copper from an Arizona mine. The deal marked one of the first direct links between low-carbon copper and AI infrastructure development.

Deficit or Surplus? Analysts Clash Over Copper’s Outlook

While demand accelerates, supply struggles to keep pace. Analysts now describe copper’s imbalance as structural rather than cyclical. J.P. Morgan projects a refined copper shortfall of roughly 330,000 metric tons in 2026.

Meanwhile, the International Copper Study Group (ICSG) expects the market to shift to a 150,000-ton deficit after previously forecasting a surplus of 209,000 tons.

Even Goldman Sachs recently called copper the commodity with the highest growth potential this year, labeling it a “core target of the AI and electrification supercycle.” It projected that the copper market would record a surplus of around 160,000 metric tons this year. As a result, supply and demand are moving closer to balance. Given this outlook, the bank does not expect the global copper market to slip into a sustained shortage anytime soon.

Mining projects face permitting delays, rising capital costs, and operational disruptions. Ore grades are declining at several mature mines. Political tensions in key producing regions have also added uncertainty.

For example, Freeport-McMoRan continues working to restore full operations at its massive Grasberg complex. The company expects production to ramp up in the second quarter of 2026, with about 85% of operations restored by the second half of the year. However, full recovery across all mining zones may not happen until 2027.

Freeport’s new smelter also remains on standby after a previous fire, though management expects concentrate intake to resume later in 2026. These challenges illustrate a broader trend: supply is not flexible enough to respond quickly to demand shocks.

US Inventories Surge, But Global Tightness Persists

Interestingly, the United States experienced a sharp rise in refined copper imports during 2025.

As per the latest reports, after the White House postponed its decision on tariffs, the price gap between U.S. copper traded on the CME and copper traded on the LME quickly narrowed. As a result, the trading opportunity disappeared for a short time. However, copper imports into the U.S. soon picked up again.

In December alone, nearly 200,000 metric tons entered the U.S. market. According to the World Bureau of Metal Statistics (WBMS), total U.S. refined copper imports reached 1.4 million tons in 2025. That marked a year-on-year increase of 730,000 tons.

Similarly, according to Benchmark, earlier in 2025, the price gap between U.S. and global copper prices rose to nearly $3,000 per ton. That large difference pulled huge volumes of copper into the country.

It estimates that more than 730 kt of copper is effectively “trapped” in the U.S. This surge created a sizeable inventory build inside the country.

Yet, global supply remains tight. Much of the imported metal reflects precautionary stockpiling and strategic positioning rather than structural oversupply. Outside North America, deficits still loom large.

Therefore, while U.S. warehouses appear full, the broader market remains stretched.

Best Copper Stocks to Watch as the Deficit Deepens

With prices elevated and deficits emerging, mining companies are scaling up investments. Selective producers with strong balance sheets and operations in stable jurisdictions may benefit most if copper prices reaccelerate. In this global outlook, Canadian and allied-country producers enjoy added appeal.

For instance:

Teck Resources

The miner reiterated 2026 production guidance of between 455,000 and 530,000 tonnes. The company continues ramping up the Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 project in Chile, with peak capital spending nearing $2 billion. A proposed merger with Anglo American could create one of the world’s top five copper producers.

Hudbay Minerals

It reported record revenue and EBITDA in 2025. The company doubled its quarterly dividend and increased 2026 capital spending to support both sustaining operations and growth initiatives, including the Copper World project in Arizona.

Lundin Mining

Similarly, Lundin Mining delivered record revenue of $4.1 billion in 2025. Copper production reached over 331,000 tonnes at competitive cash costs. The company expects output to remain stable in 2026, while continuing to advance development projects across its portfolio.

Developers also see opportunity. Capstone Copper projects 2026 production between 200,000 and 230,000 tonnes. It plans significant sustaining and exploration investments to strengthen long-term growth. In addition, North American manufacturers are expanding. Revere Copper Products secured a $207.5 million credit facility in January to fund capacity expansion tied to electrification and data center demand.

So it’s clearly the industry is preparing for sustained strength.

Can Prices Stay Above $13,000?

The key question now is sustainability. A Reuters poll of 31 analysts published January 29 placed the median 2026 copper price forecast at $11,975 per ton. That figure sits well below recent peaks, yet it represents the highest consensus forecast ever recorded.

In other words, even cautious analysts expect historically strong pricing.

In conclusion, copper’s surge above $14,000 per ton signals more than a short-term rally. It reflects a big structural change. AI data centers, electrification, and energy transition projects are rewriting demand projections. At the same time, supply growth struggles under operational, political, and financial constraints.

Although price volatility will likely persist, the broader setup remains supportive. Producers with low costs, strong balance sheets, and exposure to stable jurisdictions may offer strategic advantages in this new cycle.

In many ways, copper has become the backbone of the AI and clean energy economy. And if current trends continue, the red metal’s supercycle may only be getting started.

READ MORE: 

• Rio Tinto’s FY25 Profit Falls 14%, but Copper Projects and Sustainability Efforts Stand Out
• Copper Drives BHP’s $6.2B Profit Surge in FY26 Half-Year Results 

The post Copper Prices Surge Above $13,000: Best Copper Stocks to Watch in 2026 appeared first on Carbon Credits.