Microsoft, the US technology company, has contracted 40 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable energy since 2020, enough to power around 10 million American homes, as it accelerates efforts to eliminate its carbon footprint by the end of the decade.
The company said Wednesday it had worked with more than 95 utilities and developers across 26 countries, signing over 400 contracts, with 19 GW already online and the remainder due to come online within five years.
The procurement supports Microsoft's 2020 commitment to become carbon negative by 2030 and its goal to match 100% of its annual global electricity consumption with renewable energy.
The company said the effort has mobilised billions of dollars in private investment and reduced its reported Scope 2 emissions, which cover purchased electricity, by an estimated 25 million tonnes.
Microsoft traced the programme back to a 110 megawatt power purchase agreement (PPA) in Texas in 2013, describing it as the foundation of what has grown into one of the largest corporate clean energy procurement efforts on record.
Major agreements highlighted include a 10.5 GW framework with Brookfield, the Canadian asset manager, a 500 MW PPA with Sol Systems, a 250 MW PPA with Volt Energy Utility, and more than 1.5 GW of distributed solar with Pivot Energy and PowerTrust.
The company is also partnering on a 50 MW fusion energy project with Helion and Constellation and supporting the restart of the 835 MW Crane Clean Energy Center, a nuclear plant in Pennsylvania.
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Microsoft's Climate Innovation Fund has allocated $806 million across 67 investees, with 38% directed toward energy systems.
The company said it would continue adding carbon-free electricity solutions and deploying AI tools to accelerate energy procurement and deployment.
The recap
- Microsoft contracted 40 gigawatts of new renewable energy since 2020.
- 19 gigawatts are now online delivering new clean energy.
- Remaining capacity scheduled online over the next five years.
