Commercial, Solar, Sourcing Renewables  -  January 26, 2023

Microsoft Partners to Power Solar Energy 

Microsoft will work with Qcells to develop solar projects and provide panels and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services to selected solar projects Microsoft has contracted for through PPAs. The agreement is expected to enable a supply chain for new renewable electricity capacity projected to require at last 2.5 gigawatts of solar panels and related services. 

A statement from Microsoft notes that this alliance marks "the first time a company that procures energy is working directly with a solar supplier to adopt clean energy on a big scale. The new collaboration is rooted in the two companies’ collective commitments to diversify the global energy supply chain, proactively lead the development of more reliable energy supply chains in the United States and abroad, and reduce carbon emissions."

“Building a resilient solar energy supply chain is essential to advancing a global green energy economy. Microsoft’s partnership with Qcells will help make this vision a reality by bringing innovation and investment to rural Georgia,” said Brad Smith, vice chair and president, Microsoft in the statement. “As one of the world’s largest purchasers of renewable energy, this work will help bring more solar energy to the grid, faster.”

Microsoft committed to purchasing renewable energy with a goal of achieving 100% coverage of electricity consumption with renewable energy by 2025. The company is extending its sustainability activities to support the domestic production of green energy equipment in the regions it operates globally. 

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