Microsoft is shopping for 100 megawatts of photo voltaic capability from Japanese developer Shizen Power, the newest in a string of renewable power offers designed to energy the tech firm’s rising compute wants.
The agreement, which the businesses introduced late final week, covers 4 completely different photo voltaic developments; one is already working and three are beneath development. The deal covers output from the vegetation for 20 years.
Seattle-based Microsoft already operates two information facilities in Japan. Microsoft’s compute capability is slated to expand as the corporate invests $2.9 billion within the nation over the subsequent yr.
Photo voltaic has change into a popular supply of energy for tech firms and information middle operators lately as a result of it’s fast and low cost to construct. Photo voltaic is among the many least expensive types of new producing capability, and initiatives are usually accomplished inside 18 months. Plus, customers can start drawing energy earlier than the complete challenge is full.
Microsoft has been an enormous purchaser of photo voltaic in latest months. For the reason that yr started, the corporate has contracted greater than 1 gigawatt of photo voltaic capability.