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Microsoft has add another 389 megawatts of renewable index to its portfolio as the tech giant scuffle to run across the power demands require to match its AI ambitions .
The additional renewable power span three solar projects originate by EDP Renewables North America — two in southern Illinois and one outside Austin , Texas . Microsoft is buying a mix of electrical energy to fertilise its nearby operations and renewable energy credits to cover requirement elsewhere .
Microsoft press nearly 20 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity , according to the company ’s 2024 sustainability report . This latest leverage adds around 2 % to the tally .
The technical school giant has been procuring powerfulness at a rapid clip to fee its swarm and AI operation . Like many ofits peer , Microsoft has embraced renewable power , in part because wind and solar can be deployed quickly and cheaply .
Solar is specially rapid . While raw gas power plant take days to build up and commission , a new solar farm can start acquire power in as few as 18 month . Developers have been plan projects that can be commission in phases , allowing them to ply data centers with electrical energy as promptly as possible .
To enable power 24 hours a day , seven days a week , some renewable developer are plough tohybrid installation . Solar and wind are colligate to one or more types of batteries , which are charged when renewable mightiness flows and discharged when it ebb off . Last calendar week , Amazon signed a contractwith one such evolution in Portugal .
Renewable vigour purchase allow Microsoft to power its core trading operations without producing pollution . It may also help Microsoft meet its pledge to become C electronegative by 2030 . To hit the prey , Microsoft will have to sequester and store more carbon than its cognitive operation bring on .
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To reach negatively charged emissions , Microsoft has also endow in various forms of carbon paper remotion , including direct line capture , enhanced careen weathering , and reforestation . Last month , Microsoft announced a bargain with Chestnut Carbon to buymore than 7 million tonsof carbon credits , enough to enshroud about half the technical school troupe ’s emissions in 2023 .
