Microsoft Signs Up For Over 900 MW Renewables In Ireland

• Microsoft has entered CPPAs for over 900 MW renewables capacity in Ireland
• It will come from onshore wind and solar power plants of Statkraft, Energia and Power Capital Renewable Energy
• Microsoft said this announcement is aligned with its target to have its Irish datacenters powered by 100% renewables by 2025

Global software technology company Microsoft has announced entering corporate onshore wind and solar power sourcing contracts for over 900 MW in Ireland with Norway's Statkraft, Irish energy supplier Energia and local independent solar power producer Power Capital Renewable Energy. The share of solar will be over one third.

These agreements will enable it to meet close to 30% of Ireland's corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA) target by 2030, along with company-wide sustainability goals, Microsoft's Corporate Vice-President Noelle Walsh shared in a LinkedIn post.

"This announcement builds on our efforts to make our datacenters more sustainable and foster new innovations to support the growth of renewables on the energy grid, in Ireland and around the world," added Walsh.

While the company did not share any more details of the said projects or the individual share of the 2 renewable energy technologies, local Irish broadcaster RTE said the multi-year agreements will contribute to meeting 28% of the Government's Climate Action Plan to meet 15% electricity demand by 2030 from renewable energy CPPAs.

In a statement regarding the company's renewable energy efforts to power its datacenters globally, Microsoft said it forecasts that by 2025 its Irish datacenters will be supported 100% by renewable energy from new projects supported by PPAs.

Microsoft's deals with the trio will also support new renewable energy capacity to come online.

Of the 900 MW capacity, Statkraft's SVP European Wind & Solar, Kevin O Donovan confirmed its share of 366 MW solar capacity. He said, "This CPPA deal is part of our overall approach to delivering renewable projects in Ireland. At the moment Statkraft are building 6 wind and solar projects (including some MS PPA and RESS 1 supported projects) in Ireland which are going to make a significant contribution to Ireland's renewable energy targets, bringing down the cost of energy and reducing our dependency on importing fossil fuels."

Statkraft won around 330 MW under Ireland's Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS 1) in August 2020 (see Statkraft Won 330 MW Solar & Wind In Irish Auction).

It is a big renewables deal announced by a big corporate in recent times after the world's largest private offtaker Amazon signed 2.7 GW capacity in September 2022 (see Amazon Ventures Into Brazil With 122 MW Solar Farm).