Microsoft announced the company’s first renewable energy deal in Karnataka, India.
Microsoft will purchase 3 megawatts of solar-powered electricity from Atria Power to help power its new office building in Bangalore.
This solar deal will meet 80 percent of the projected electricity needs at the new facility. This deal is part of a state government of Karnataka program to encourage investments in local solar energy operations, in line with the larger Indian government goal to ramp up solar power generation to 100 gigawatts by 2022.
“Investing in local solar energy to help power our new Bangalore office building is good for Microsoft, good for India and good for the environment,” said Anant Maheshwari, president of Microsoft India.
This is Microsoft’s first solar energy agreement in India. Microsoft completed a new solar agreement in Singapore last week. Once completed, this project will bring Microsoft’s total global direct procurement in renewable energy projects to nearly 900 megawatts.
The deals in Asia follow wind projects in Europe and a substantial portfolio in the United States.
Microsoft’s goal is to rely on wind, solar and hydropower electricity for at least 50 percent of its energy usage worldwide by the end of 2018.
