Microsoft Inks Landmark Solar Proj Deal with Sunseap for S’pore

The IT giant will buy 100 per cent of the renewable energy attributes to the grid. This landmark agreement also marks progress for Singapore in the renewables sector.

Microsoft Corp., the IT giant, has inked a 20-year pact with Sunseap Group that marks Microsoft’s first clean energy deal in Asia. It will also create the single-largest solar energy portfolio in Singapore till date.

The IT giant will buy 100 per cent of the renewable energy attributes to the grid. This landmark agreement also marks progress for Singapore in the renewables sector.

As per the deal, the 60 megawatt-peak (MWp) solar portfolio will span hundreds of rooftops across the nation. This is the largest rooftop solar project in Singapore and the first rooftop solar portfolio in the country focused on serving datacenter energy consumption.

Commenting on the agreement, Microsoft Singapore, Managing Director, Kevin Wo said, “Our cloud services are helping to power Singapore’s digital transformation, and today’s agreement will ensure that transformation is increasingly powered by clean energy.”

“We’re proud to work with Sunseap, the leading solar provider in Singapore, to support the growth of the local clean energy economy. With the agreement, Microsoft will improve the sustainability of our local operations and make important progress toward our corporate sustainability goals for datacenters,” he added.

Singapore is the home to Microsoft datacenter services that deliver Microsoft Azure, Office 365 and numerous other cloud services for customers.

“Sunseap is pleased to work with Microsoft on this landmark solar project. We see exciting potential in our partnership with Microsoft to raise awareness within the tech industry of the importance of adopting renewable energy solutions. Their investment in Singapore solar indicates a growing momentum for clean energy in the country and will further the positive ripple effect for organizations in Singapore to incorporate sustainability practices in their businesses,” said Lawrence Wu, Co-Founder and Director, Sunseap.

“This deal is Microsoft’s first renewable energy deal in Asia, and is our third international clean energy announcement, following two wind deals announced in Ireland and The Netherlands in 2017,” said Christian Belady, general manager, Cloud Infrastructure Strategy and Architecture, Microsoft. “We’re on track to exceed our goal of powering 50 percent of our global datacenter load with renewable energy this year. Once operational, the new solar project will bring Microsoft’s total global direct procurement in renewable energy projects to 860 megawatts.”