Microsoft to keep buying enough renewable energy to match all its electricity needs
MicrosoftMicrosoft(US:MSFT) Reuters·2026-02-18 16:03

Core Insights - Microsoft has committed to purchasing enough renewable energy to match all its electricity needs, achieving this goal for the first time last year by contracting 40 gigawatts of new renewable energy supply [1][1][1] - The company aims to maintain this 100% renewable energy target during its expansion of AI-driven data centers, with plans to invest $50 billion by 2030 to support AI initiatives in the Global South [1][1][1] Renewable Energy Commitment - Microsoft has successfully contracted 40 gigawatts of renewable energy, with 19 gigawatts already supplied to the power grid [1][1] - The renewable energy contracts span 26 countries, and the remaining supply is expected to be delivered over the next five years [1][1] - The company’s cloud operations chief emphasized the importance of maintaining a 100% renewable energy target as the company grows [1][1] AI Expansion and Investment - Microsoft plans to invest $50 billion by 2030 to expand AI capabilities, particularly in countries across the Global South, primarily funding cloud and AI data centers [1][1] - The recent lifting of a moratorium on data center grid connections in Ireland is expected to help Microsoft meet significant demand for data centers in the region [1][1] - The company anticipates moving forward with previously stalled data center proposals outside Dublin, contingent on new regulatory policies [1][1]