Akamai has designed an ambitious new system that could enable customers to manage the electrical power used for them on our multi-tenant platform. Members of our Cloud Technology Group Architect team have been the force behind these designs, with the goal of supporting potential future features around more environmentally friendly delivery, as customers help us prioritize further interest in this area.

The system, while in its early stages, is designed to enable customers to control the quality of the electrical power (e.g., in clean energy terms) used to power their end-user services and to specify when and how performance degradation would be acceptable to achieve it, if necessary. For example, a customer providing streaming video might prioritize using renewable energy while adjusting video quality or buffering times to save power. The technology is applicable to many services, such as streaming media, website delivery, and edge computing. Moreover, a tracking and reporting tool would enable customers to see the environmental impact their choices make and to demonstrate how their end-user services align with sustainability goals.

In December 2024, Akamai received a U.S. patent related to aspects of the work on this innovative project. The patent showcases Akamai’s leadership in sustainable technology by embedding carbon-conscious choices into its platform.