Qcells To Supply 2.5 GW Of Solar Panels To Microsoft

South Korean solar conglomerate Qcells and software giant Microsoft Corp have announced that they are partnering to enable a strong supply chain for new renewable electricity capacity projected to require at least 2.5 GW of solar panels and related services. This capacity is equivalent to power more than 400,000 homes. Microsoft aims at becoming carbon negative by 2030. Qcells has made a conscious decision to seek a stronger presence in the US market over market like India, in search of higher margins.

The Hanwha Solutions owned Qcells will work with Microsoft to develop solar projects as well as provide panels and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services to selected solar projects. These RE projects were contracted by Microsoft through PPAs.

Microsoft has committed to purchasing renewable energy with a goal of achieving 100% coverage of electricity consumption with renewable energy by 2025. The software company is extending its sustainability activities to support domestic production of green energy equipment in the regions it operates globally.

Microsoft said that its supporting solar products of Qcells, including those manufactured domestically, to bring more renewable energy to the grid. Qcells claims to be the company in the US that will have a complete solar supply chain and provides one-stop clean energy solutions.

For A Sustainable Solar Value Chain

Microsoft mentions that this alliance is the first time a company that procures energy is working directly with a solar supplier to adopt clean energy on a big scale.

Brad Smith, President, Microsoft, said, “Building a resilient solar energy supply chain is essential to advancing a global green energy economy. Microsoft’s partnership with Qcells will help make this vision a reality by bringing innovation and investment to rural Georgia.”

“We’re striving to build and deliver turnkey clean energy solutions, including those made in America, and this partnership with Microsoft will help accomplish this vision,” said Justin Lee, CEO of Qcells.

Recently, Gurugram-based ReNew Power had signed a renewable energy agreement for 150 MW with Microsoft India making it one of the largest such deals in India. Microsoft had also said that it has signed PPAs for the supply of over 900 MW of renewable energy for its data centres that are located in Ireland.