Microsoft orders solar cells that could power 400,000 homes
In order to achieve its own climate targets, Microsoft has ordered a large number of solar cells from the company Qcells in the USA. The modules could theoretically supply up to 400,000 households with energy.
Large corporations have long since discovered the topic of sustainability for themselves. In the IT industry in particular, more and more companies are setting themselves goals for a climate-neutral future. Google would like to operate in a climate-neutral manner by around 2030. At Microsoft, all greenhouse gas emissions are to be halved by 2030.
At the same time, the US group would like to also operate in a climate-negative manner. But these goals appear to be in jeopardy. The reason: the lack of expansion of renewable energies in the USA. Then just 20 percent of the total requirement to date has come from renewable sources. Microsoft has therefore now a strategic alliance closed with Qcells.
Microsoft orders solar cells from Qcells
Accordingly, the company wants to secure solar cells to provide 2.5 gigawatts of power. According to the company, this should be enough to theoretically supply up to 400,000 households with green electricity. Because so far only the main group runs on 100 percent green electricity, with suppliers and subsidiaries that is far from working.
But that could soon change with the purchased service. By 2030, the aim is to cover all electricity consumption from wind, hydropower and solar systems. There are political reasons why Microsoft chose a company from South Korea as a partner. Because the US government is currently not positive about the People’s Republic of China.
Emissions rose again in fiscal 2021
As a result, the government blocked over 1,000 shipments of solar panels last year. That is also the background Ban on imports from the Xinjiang region. That’s why Microsoft has to make itself more independent of suppliers from the People’s Republic. However, there are still a few challenges to be overcome before we can achieve complete climate neutrality.
In fiscal 2021, Microsoft’s emissions increased by 2.5 million tons compared to the previous year. The reason is, among other things, the cloud business, which has an enormous energy requirement. And this need is in the likely to increase in the coming years.
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