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Microsoft accelerates investments in solar energy for AI and sustainability
A Microsoft continues to expand its investments in renewable energy, ensuring that its operations are increasingly sustainable.
Em February 2025, the company announced the expansion of its solar projects, seeking to meet the growing energy demand of its data centers and applications of artificial intelligence (AI).
Furthermore, with the acquisition of 389 megawatts of solar power, Microsoft takes another step toward its goal of carbon negative by 2030, commitment made by the company in January 2020.
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This movement strengthens the global company infrastructure and significantly reduces its dependence on fossil fuels.
To make this progress possible, the EDP Renewables North America developed the new solar projects, which are located in the south of Illinois and in the vicinity of Austin, Texas.
In this way, Microsoft adds approximately 2% to its full capacity, which already exceeds 20 gigawatts of renewable energy contracted.
According to the portal TechCrunch, this acquisition is part of the strategy to expand the portfolio of clean energy from Microsoft.
The company had already signed similar contracts in 2023 to Olos technology Brookfield Asset Management for the supply of solar and wind energy on a large scale.
Solar and wind power boost data centers and AI
Currently, the Microsoft strongly invests in renewable energy, as he understands that this solution not only reduces operating costs, but also improves your sustainability.
Em April 2024, the company revealed an energy transition plan in partnership with AES Corporation.
The project focuses on the development of hybrid plants that match solar energy and battery storage, ensuring stable operations even in periods of low solar generation.
Another important point is that the implementation of solar plants happens in a much shorter period of time.
The average time for a solar plant to become operational is less than 18 months, while gas-fired plants can take several years to complete.
Thus, the choice for solar energy becomes a solution more practical and viable to meet the company's growing energy needs.
Furthermore, Microsoft is investing in hybrid solutions, Combining solar energy and wind com storage batteries.
As a result, the system stores excess energy to be used at times when renewable production decreases.
In this way, the company guarantees an uninterrupted supply, without compromising the stability of its operations.
The growth of artificial intelligence has driven this demand for new energy sources.
According to BloombergNEF, the energy consumption of data centers can grow more than 50% by 2030, driven by the advancement of AI and cloud computing.
Em September 2024, Microsoft released a sustainability report.
In the document, the company revealed that its operations AI already consumes 40% more energy than at the beginning of the decade.
Microsoft highlighted that without renewable solutions, its emissions could triple by up to 2028.
Microsoft is betting on carbon offsetting to reach its target
To achieve the goal of carbon negative by 2030, Microsoft has been adopting various carbon removal technologies.
Among them, the following stand out: direct air capture, rock weathering and reforestation.
Em November 2023, the company entered into a contract with Chestnut Carbon, ensuring the acquisition of 7 million tons of carbon credits.
In this way, the company offset approximately 50% of its 2023 emissions, as pointed out by Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).
Nowadays, many companies seek strategies to reduce their emissions.
However, some emissions are still inevitable, requiring additional solutions for neutralize these impacts.
In this sense, carbon offsetting has become essential to ensure a sustainable future.
Furthermore, Microsoft continues to invest in direct air capture, One innovative technology that promises efficiently remove CO₂ from the atmosphere.
According to a study published by MIT Technology Review em December 2024, direct air capture still has high costs.
However, experts believe that this technology could become economically viable in the next decade.
Another relevant point is that the Microsoft is not only focusing on reducing its own emissions, but is also encouraging other companies to take similar steps..
As part of this strategy, the company signed partnerships with different sectors, encouraging the transition to a more sustainable business model.
Microsoft leads the technology sector’s energy transition
With so many initiatives, the Microsoft consolidates itself as a reference in corporate sustainability and innovation.
Furthermore, the company demonstrates that large corporations can play a decisive role in reducing the carbon footprint.
From 2021, Microsoft participates in a global consortium, the First Movers Coalition, which brings together large companies committed to clean technologies.
Em October 2023, the company announced its entry into the NextGen CDR Facility, a global fund to boost carbon capture and storage technologies.
A Microsoft serves as a model for other tech giants, including Google and Amazon, that also increase their investments in renewable energy.
In this way, the entire sector moves towards a sustainable energy transformation.
Another important benefit of solar and wind energy is cost predictability, as it avoids the volatility of fossil fuel prices.
As a result, Microsoft protects its financial structure and ensures the viability of its long-term projects.
The technology sector continues to expand its energy consumption.
With the increasing demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing, sustainable solutions become fundamental to ensure responsible growth.
This way, the Microsoft proves that technology and sustainability can go hand in hand.
Through its investments in renewable energy e capture of carbon, the company takes a leading role in global transformation, directly influencing the future of the energy sector.
