Microsoft Maintains Full Renewable Energy Coverage Amid AI Data Center Expansion
Microsoft has announced its continued commitment to purchasing sufficient renewable energy to cover its entire electricity needs, following the achievement of this milestone for the first time last year, as the company rapidly expands its AI-powered data centers.
The company met its 2025 target by contracting approximately 40 gigawatts of new renewable energy projects, mostly through long-term purchase agreements that enable developers to launch additional projects and increase clean electricity supply.
Of this capacity, around 19 gigawatts have already been connected to the grid, while the remaining capacity is expected to come online over the next five years through projects across 26 countries worldwide.
Microsoft emphasized its goal of maintaining full reliance on renewable electricity despite growing demand, while expanding the use of carbon-free energy sources, including nuclear power, as part of its strategy to become a carbon-negative company by 2030.
The company also plans to invest approximately $50 billion by 2030 to enhance AI capabilities in the Global South, focusing on developing cloud infrastructure, funding data centers, and supporting projects related to advanced technologies.
In Europe, Microsoft benefited from the Irish government’s decision to relax restrictions on connecting data centers to the electricity grid, supporting plans to meet rising demand. New projects outside Dublin are being implemented in accordance with regulations requiring centers to cover 80% of their annual electricity consumption with renewable energy.
These initiatives reflect Microsoft’s commitment to energy sustainability and its effort to balance rapid expansion of digital and AI infrastructure with minimizing environmental impact, amid increasing pressure on technology companies to reduce emissions while energy consumption grows.