Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has recently announced that it has reached another deal in buying solar-powered electricity in India. Microsoft shares are expected to get a boost from the said announcement. Since last year, the company has been striking deals with other companies in regards to the expansion of its solar energy resources in powering up its data centers.
This is following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that all climate regulations from the Obama administration are to be reversed. Top American tech companies then announced that they will still push through with their efforts in fighting climate change. Other companies involved include Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), and Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN).
Renewable Energy Powered Data Centers
Last year, Microsoft has reached a number of deals with renewable energy companies. One of these deals includes a deal which will last fifteen years along with GE to purchase 100% of wind energy in a wind farm located in Ireland.
The wind energy was expected to come from a 37 MW Tullahennel wind farm. The deal was also done to support the demand for the company’s cloud services which has been growing especially to that of the West Dublin Microsoft data center.
Microsoft also struck a deal with Puget Sound Energy and received an approval to be able to purchase clean energy which will power up its headquarter campus in Redmond, Washington.
Before the end the year, Microsoft also signed a deal with Vattenfall, a Swedish energy company. The agreement is set to last ten years and is expected to power the operations of the data center operations of the company in the Netherlands through wind energy.
Microsoft chief legal officer Brad Smith have then commented on the agreement with Puget and stated that it is good for their business. However, he also stated that the deal is also for the benefit of the residents as well as the environment of Washington.
Expansion In Asia
Following numerous solar and renewable energy deals last year, Microsoft has signed another agreement to buy renewable energy this time in Asia. The company has announced that it will purchase three megawatts of solar-powered electricity in India from a company called Atria Power.
Microsoft will be utilizing the electricity bought from the Indian company to supply around 80% of the electricity of their new office in India. Microsoft chief environmental strategist Rob Bernard stated that this is set to become Microsoft's first solar power deal in the country. Currently, the company is planning to increase its use of renewable energy in the country.