"At Microsoft we have a long-term vision that we refer to as 100/100/0 – that on all the world’s grids, 100 percent of electrons, 100 percent of the time, are generated from zero carbon sources."
Microsoft understands that the increasing demand for its cloud services is leading to increasing demand for data centres, which require huge amounts of power to operate. They face an important challenge as a result, to scale their computing power whilst aligning with our common environmental objectives. According to BloombergNEF, Microsoft is currently the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy in 2021. But they are not stopping here.
Microsoft has recently expanded on their pledge to have 100% renewable energy supply by 2025. They have committed to have 100% of its electricity consumption, 100% of the time, matched by zero carbon energy purchases by 2030 - also known as the 100/100/0 goal. To do, Microsoft need to know:
- How to understand the initial hourly synchronicity? (% of hours during which Microsoft’s data center source zero carbon electricity)
- How to certify the hourly match and avoid double counting of energy?
- How to integrate the granular certificates into the official Energy Certificates and calculate hourly CO2 for reporting?
FlexiDAO’s software solution will match one of Microsoft’s Amsterdam datacenter’s hourly energy consumption with Eneco’s Dutch offshore wind.
- FlexiDAO’s software calculated the 24/7 synchronicity score of its PPA by matching energy production data and energy consumption data
- Granular hourly energy certificates were issued and registered on the blockchain to avoid double counting
- Obtained all the energy certificates (Gos) needed to submit the yearly Scope 2 reporting
- Calculated the location-based and market-based CO2 emissions hour-by-hour in line with the GHG Protocol
Thanks to Eneco and FlexiDAO’s integrated 24/7 solution, Microsoft will be able to:
- Monitor and calculate the 24/7 synchronicity score of its CPPA supported by the claim of Granular Certificates (GCs) and guarantees of origin (GOs)
- Obtain all the GOs needed to submit the yearly Scope 2 reporting
- Calculate the location-based and market-based CO2 emissions hour-by-hour in line with the GHG Protocol Scope 2 guidelines
The learnings and outcomes of this project are constantly enabling more market participants to include 24/7 monitoring into their procurement strategies and Scope 2 reporting, incentivising adoption of 24/7 renewable energy matching at scale and fostering the decarbonization of local grids.
The Story
This pilot is matching one of Microsoft’s Amsterdam datacenter’s hourly energy consumption with Dutch offshore wind. Microsoft is a flagship customer of the integrated 24/7 solution, which is enabling Eneco’s customers including Microsoft to have access to FlexiDAO’s 24/7 renewable energy matching tools at scale.
Microsoft engaged with energy supplier Eneco and software provider FlexiDAO in order to pilot a procurement arrangement that can truly eliminate emissions from the electricity it buys for its data centres. In this pilot, Eneco is providing Microsoft with green energy not only on an annual basis, but for every hour of the day.
24/7 green energy is essential to push the energy transition since it’s about moving from offsetting GHG emissions, to fully eliminating them from the grid. This pilot project was launched to demonstrate that 24/7 carbon-free energy is possible in compliance with official energy certification schemes and to enable more buyers to have access to 24/7 solutions.
In the context of the pilot, carbon-free power is produced by one of Eneco’s offshore wind farms located off the Dutch coast. The generation is consumed by Microsoft Netherlands, and is now being matched hourly at one of its data centers.
Following the guidelines defined by the EnergyTag initiative, FlexiDAO is enabling the issuance, transfer and claim of Granular Certificates (GCs i.e. hourly time-stamped energy attribute certificates) in order to monitor and certify the 24/7 synchronicity score of the Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) while complying with the Dutch underlying certificate scheme – European GOs – as implemented in Dutch law. CertiQ (Dutch GOs issuing body) acts as the supervising party ensuring the compliance of the claims with the Dutch GOs scheme.
In line with the recommendations provided by this guide, the metering data used for the certification will be third-party certified settlement data, provided to FlexiDAO by a Dutch regulated metering company after receiving the permission from Eneco and Microsoft.
Supporting documents
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
We develop top-notch solutions for the 24/7 monitoring of a new accessible, decentralised and fully decarbonised grid.
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
We foster a decarbonised electrification that has a direct impact on tackling this climate emergency.
See more case studies
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