Companies are getting more thoughtful about how they source clean power. A new approach in clean power procurement, known as 24/7 carbon-free electricity (CFE) procurement, focuses on sourcing clean electricity more locally and timed more closely to when it is needed by customers. Google, Microsoft and the U.S. government are among the early adopters and proponents of this approach, and many other organizations have committed to advancing it through the “24/7 Carbon-free Energy Compact” launched by Sustainable Energy for All and the United Nations.

Energy systems expert Jesse Jenkins and his research team studied the impact of 24/7 CFE procurement on electricity systems and carbon goals. In this Q&A, Jenkins, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, and Head of Clean Energy and Carbon Development at Google Maud Texier speak to what is unique about this model and how it can accelerate the switch to a clean electricity system.

Jenkins leads Princeton’s ZERO lab and helped establish a new low-carbon technology consortium at Princeton, where Google is a founding member. The company also became a member of Princeton E-ffiliates Partnership this year. To dive deeper on 24/7 CFE, watch a seminar about the research and download the findings.