Microsoft Powers AI Growth with 100% Renewable Energy

Microsoft announced it has achieved its goal of matching 100% of its electricity consumption with renewable energy, a target originally set for 2025. This milestone was met by contracting 40 gigawatts of new renewable energy, primarily through power purchase agreements. Nineteen gigawatts from these contracts are already supplying the power grid, with the remainder expected over the next five years across 26 countries.

The company's cloud operations chief stated that maintaining this 100% renewable energy match is a priority as Microsoft continues its growth. Carbon-free electricity sources will play an increasing role in meeting this target through 2030, by which time Microsoft aims to be carbon negative. This effort underpins a separate announcement of a $50 billion investment by 2030 to expand AI infrastructure globally, with a focus on the 'Global South'.

In Ireland, a recent government decision to lift restrictions on data center grid connections will enable Microsoft to proceed with stalled data center projects near Dublin. These projects are expected to move forward once new regulatory policies requiring data centers to meet at least 80% of their annual demand from additional renewable power are implemented next month. Data centers currently represent a significant portion of Ireland's power consumption.