Meta Powers New AI Data Center With 100MW Solar Expansion in South Carolina

Meta has finalized plans to add 100 megawatts of solar power capacity to support its upcoming AI-focused data center in South Carolina, according to filings with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. The renewable energy expansion, developed in partnership with local utility provider Dominion Energy, will be integrated into the state’s grid beginning in Q3 2025. This initiative follows Meta’s broader strategy to meet 100% of its global operations’ energy needs with renewable sources by 2030, a target the company claims is now 80% achieved across its data center portfolio. The South Carolina facility, codenamed “Project Titan,” is designed to host advanced AI workloads, including large language models and real-time inference systems, requiring unprecedented power density and grid reliability.

Project Titan represents Meta’s third major AI data center in the southeastern United States, joining facilities in Texas and Tennessee. Construction on the 110-acre campus in Chester County began in late 2023, with on-site operations slated to commence in early 2026. The data center’s power demand is expected to reach 150 megawatts at full capacity, making it one of the largest AI-dedicated data centers in the world. To meet this demand sustainably, Meta has contracted with Dominion Energy to source solar energy from a mix of new and existing solar farms across South Carolina and neighboring states, leveraging the region’s abundant solar irradiance and transmission infrastructure.

Meta’s decision to prioritize solar over other renewable sources—such as wind or nuclear—reflects both regional availability and corporate sustainability pledges. The company has signed long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) totaling 300 megawatts of solar capacity, with options to expand further as AI infrastructure scales. Energy analysts note that solar-plus-storage systems are increasingly favored for AI data centers due to their modular scalability and lower environmental impact compared to fossil-fuel peaking plants. Meanwhile, competitors like Google and Microsoft have also committed to major renewable energy expansions, but Meta’s latest move signals a more aggressive timetable aligned with AI growth projections.

The timing of this announcement coincides with growing scrutiny over the energy footprint of generative AI. A recent International Energy Agency report estimated that AI data centers could consume up to 1,000 terawatt-hours annually by 2030—roughly equivalent to the electricity use of Japan—unless substantial efficiency gains and renewable integration occur. Meta’s initiative is thus both a strategic infrastructure play and a public commitment to mitigate environmental criticism. The company has also integrated AI governance frameworks into its sustainability reporting, including third-party audits of its energy claims and carbon accounting aligned with the Green Software Foundation’s standards.

Industry observers see this solar expansion as a bellwether for how major tech firms will power the next generation of AI infrastructure. Dominion Energy, which serves over 7 million customers in 15 states, is rapidly expanding its renewable portfolio to meet corporate demand, with a $37 billion capital plan announced last year targeting 5 gigawatts of new solar and storage by 2035. Smaller regional utilities are now accelerating interconnection studies to accommodate tech-driven load growth, while renewable energy developers are prioritizing projects near high-capacity transmission corridors. Financial markets have responded with increased investment in solar asset-backed securities, with issuance growing by 40% in 2024 according to BloombergNEF data.

Critics caution, however, that solar alone may not be sufficient during peak demand or grid disruptions. While Meta’s South Carolina facility will benefit from relatively stable solar production, AI workloads often require 24/7 power, prompting some industry leaders to explore hybrid models combining solar, battery storage, and geothermal energy. Competitors such as Oracle Cloud Infrastructure have begun deploying liquid immersion cooling systems that reduce energy overhead by up to 25%, potentially offsetting renewable intermittency. Meanwhile, regulatory bodies in South Carolina are reviewing grid modernization plans to support data center growth while maintaining reliability for residential and commercial users.

Looking ahead, the integration of AI with renewable energy systems is poised to become a defining feature of next-generation data centers. Experts expect to see greater standardization in energy-as-a-service models, where cloud providers contract directly with renewable developers for long-term capacity. Analysts at Wood Mackenzie predict that by 2027, over 60% of new hyperscale data centers will include on-site or contracted renewable microgrids. As AI models grow more power-intensive, the ability to source clean, dispatchable energy will increasingly influence site selection and competitive advantage. With Meta’s latest move, the race to power AI responsibly is no longer theoretical—it is now a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure imperative.

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