Microsoft To Run Netherlands Operations on Offshore Wind from 2022

Microsoft and renewable energy supplier Eneco have partnered to drive sustainable business transformations. Under the agreement, the electricity produced by the offshore wind farm will power Microsoft’s data centers for a period of fifteen years from 2022 onward. Eneco had previously come to agreements with Dutch-based companies Stedin, DSM and Royal Schiphol Group to purchase power from Borssele III & IV.

“Our purchasing of renewable energy helps improve the sustainability of our operations and local grids,” said Brian Janous, general manager of Energy and Sustainability at Microsoft. “This agreement is our 14th renewable energy power purchase agreement and brings our total clean energy portfolio to more than 1.5 gigawatts.”

“Eneco sets a great example of how we can use technology to accelerate clean energy growth locally, which is crucial to strengthen not only our own competitive advantage but that of the Netherlands in a sustainable way. By joining forces, we are taking another step in driving the clean energy goals of the country and our global ambition of using technology to advance sustainability,” said Ernst-Jan Stigter, General Manager of Microsoft Netherlands.

This is Microsoft’s second purchase of wind energy in the Netherlands in a year, which brings its total wind energy purchases to 270MW in the Netherlands.

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“Tech companies are facing the challenge to reduce their carbon footprint, mostly due to the vast energy consumption of their data centers. A global frontrunner like Microsoft does not see this as a challenge, but as an opportunity to boost the energy transition. We are proud we can help them to switch to sustainable, smart and clean energy supply in the Netherlands. As a result Microsoft is creating local opportunity, growth, and impact while enabling Eneco to continue to invest in large-scale renewable energy projects like Borssele III/IV,” says Hans Peters, Chief Customer Officer of Eneco.

The project will feature 77 MHI Vestas 9.5MW wind turbines installed some 22km offshore Zeeland and scheduled to be operational in 2021.