Microsoft recently make a strong statement in support of global solar energy with the purchase of 100 percent of the renewable output from a new solar project in Singapore.
The deal marks Microsoft’s entry into the clean energy market in Asia and will create the single-largest solar energy portfolio in Singapore. By investing in this 60MW solar project, Microsoft bolsters the development of new solar projects and the greening of Singapore’s energy grid.
The portfolio is developed by Sunseap Group, a Singapore-based solar energy system owner and operator. As part of the 20-year agreement signed this past March, the system will span hundreds of rooftops across Singapore and will primarily power datacenter energy consumption.
Singapore is home to Microsoft datacenter services for Microsoft Azure, Office 365 and other cloud services. Microsoft has invested in Singapore for decades, beginning operations there in 1990 with more than 850 current employees in the region.
“Our cloud services are helping to power Singapore’s digital transformation, and today’s agreement will ensure that transformation is increasingly powered by clean energy,” said Kevin Wo, managing director, Microsoft Singapore. “We’re proud to work with Sunseap, the leading solar provider in Singapore, to support the growth of the local clean energy economy. With the agreement, Microsoft will improve the sustainability of our local operations and make important progress toward our corporate sustainability goals for datacenters.”
The Singapore renewable energy deal is Microsoft’s first in Asia but the company’s third international clean energy procurement. In 2017, Microsoft signed wind energy generations deals in Ireland and The Netherlands in 2017. Microsoft has a goal of powering 50 percent of its global datacenter load with renewable energy by the end of 2018. Once operational, the new Singapore solar project will bring Microsoft’s total global direct procurement in renewable energy projects to 860 megawatts.