Microsoft has announced plans to power its Irish data centres with 100% renewable electricity by 2025.
The tech giant has struck deals with Statkraft, Energia Group and Power Capital Renewable Energy to add over 900MW of wind and solar energy to Ireland’s electricity grid.
That’s enough to power almost one million homes.
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It is hoped the move will lower the burden data centres are placing on the country’s electricity supplies.
University College Cork energy boffin Paul Deane said: “This is a step in the right direction for the Data centre industry which is expected to grow significantly in this decade.
“Leadership in delivering climate action and emission reduction are required from companies like Microsoft if the data centre industry is to remain relevant in a world that needs to reduce pollution from fossil fuels and electricity generation.”
The multi-year agreement between the firms will also provide almost a third of the ‘corporate power purchase agreement’ 2030 target of six terrawatt hours of additional electricity in the Government’s Climate Action Plan.
A corporate power purchasing agreement is when a company like Microsoft procures renewable energy through contract with a generator.
Microsoft’s corporate VP cloud of operations and innovation, Noelle Walsh, said: “We’re committed to becoming carbon negative by 2030.
“That’s why I’m delighted to announce Microsoft has signed 900MW of onshore wind and solar renewable energy power purchase agreements, which will enable Microsoft to achieve our 2025 sustainability goals and to contribute close to 30% of Ireland’s corporate power purchase target by 2030.
“This announcement builds on our efforts to make our data centres more sustainable and foster new innovations to support the growth of renewables on the energy grid here in Ireland.
“As we continue to support the growing demand for Cloud across public and private sectors, Microsoft is committed to partnering with all stakeholders to help Ireland on its grid decarbonisation journey while unlocking the opportunities of a digital economy and society.”
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD, said the move “is very welcome news and will help to ensure the company’s data centres play a more positive role in bringing new green power to the electricity grid and driving Ireland’s renewable energy transition”.
“As we position Ireland as a global digital leader and achieve our climate change objectives, Government is determined to progress both the digitalisation of our economy and its decarbonisation,” he added.
Energia Group CEO Ian Thom said the deal “highlights the benefit of collaboration in bringing about collective benefit for society, enterprise, and the economy” and “represents another step towards the achievement” of renewables targets.
Kevin O’Donovan, Statkraft Ireland MD, believes the “announcement shows our continued rollout of new wind and solar projects is not just having a significant impact on Ireland’s renewable targets, but helping to deliver affordable, green energy to homes, communities – and businesses – amid a fossil fuel-driven energy crisis”.
Ireland’s Power Capital Renewable Energy Co CEO Peter Duff added: “Solar is now a proven force in Ireland and has become increasingly viable for businesses and homes.
“We very much look forward to playing an increasing role in the further decarbonisation of the grid here in Ireland.”
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