Microsoft Embarks On Massive Solar Project In Singapore

Tech giant reaches agreement to purchase 100% of the renewable energy from a new 60MW solar project in Singapore.

The deal marks Microsoft’s first ever clean energy facility in Asia and as a by-product will create the single-largest solar energy portfolio in the city state of Singapore to date.

Christian Belady, general manager, Cloud Infrastructure Strategy and Architecture, Microsoft, said: “This deal is Microsoft’s first renewable energy deal in Asia, and is our third international clean energy announcement, following two wind deals announced in Ireland and the Netherlands in 2017.

“We’re on track to exceed our goal of powering 50 percent of our global datacenter load with renewable energy this year. Once operational, the new solar project will bring Microsoft’s total global direct procurement in renewable energy projects to 860 megawatts.”

Microsoft agrees to buy 100% of the energy produced by a new solar power array spread in Singapore

Peak power

This 60 megawatt-peak solar project isn’t based in any one place however, and the solar panels used will span hundreds of rooftops across the nation, and will also be the first large scale project of its kind geared entirely to serving the power needs of data-centres.

“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.”

Long term

Microsoft has initially signed a 20 year agreement for its data-centres to be powered through the solar power project, and the company will purchase all of the renewable energy attributed to the main power grid in Singapore.

The move is also expected to encourage other Singaporean based businesses to follow suit and invest in renewable energy.