GHG Emissions, Power Prices, Sourcing Renewables  -  February 24, 2021

Accenture and Microsoft collaborate to accelerate U.K.’s transition to net-zero

Microsoft and global digital services company Accenture announced on Feb. 24 that they are partnering to help speed the U.K.’s low-carbon transition. The companies, in conjunction with their joint venture, Avanade, will work together to help utility and energy companies transform the energy system and lower the cost of decarbonizing the supply and demand of electricity in the U.K.

The U.K. is the first G7 country to legislate for a net-zero target for carbon emissions by 2050. Accenture, Microsoft, and Avanade will combine their unique capabilities across cloud, data, and AI, coupled with their experience with the internet of things, digital twins, and industry transformation, to help utility and energy companies support the UK’s low-carbon ambition.

“Last year, Microsoft announced we would be carbon negative by 2030 and remove our entire carbon footprint by 2050,”  Clare Barclay, CEO at Microsoft U.K., said in a statement. “A fundamental way in which we aim to achieve these targets is through technological innovation. Likewise, we pledged to develop and deploy digital technologies to help others reduce their carbon footprints. As part of our commitment to creating a greener and sustainable world, we are proud to partner with Accenture and Avanade to deploy technologies to help UK-based utility companies transform the generation, storage and supply of clean energy.”

Accenture, Microsoft, and Avanade’s integrated approach to U.K. decarbonization focuses on the following goals:

• Help utility and energy clients decarbonize the supply of energy by reducing the cost of renewable generation by up to 25% and increasing its role in system balancing while ensuring nuclear plays its role effectively as a continuous supplier of base-load electricity. 
• Support the cost-effective electrification of energy demand. This includes enabling 50% of the new electricity demand for transportation and heating to contribute to balancing a system where more than 70% of the power generated is from renewable sources. 
• Efficiently match supply and demand for an electricity system that is zero-carbon by 2025 and help clients realize a 20% reduction in the cost of meeting increasing electricity demand through innovative approaches to network design, construction, and operation.

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