Amazon Web Services (AWS) has said it will be making the switch to hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) from diesel to power the backup generators used in its European data centres.

According to a statement by the company, the transition to HVO began in January 2023, with its sites in Ireland and Sweden the first to make the switch.

HVO can be made from waste cooking oil, or vegetable, plant, and residue oils, and is a renewable and biodegradable fuel that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% over the fuel’s lifecycle when compared with diesel.

In order for AWS to switch all of its European sites to HVO, the company has said it is investing in the procurement of HVO that only comes from renewable sources and is working to develop a global supply chain of the fuel.

Neil Morris, Director of Infrastructure Operations, Northern Europe, at AWS said: “At AWS, we’re committed to and invested in sustainability because it’s a win all around – it’s good for the planet, for business, for our customers, and for our communities.

“Transitioning to HVO is just one of the many ways we’re improving the sustainability of our data centres, decarbonising our operations, and working towards Amazon’s company-wide goal to meet net-zero carbon by 2040, ten years ahead of the Paris Agreement.

“By making this commitment to using sustainably-sourced HVO at our data centres sites, we hope to pave the way for other businesses, and help establish a global supply chain that will accelerate change across Europe, working in collaboration with other organisations.”