Microsoft data center to be partially powered by nuclear energy
Nuclear

Microsoft data center to be partially powered by nuclear energy

The software conglomerate will track its environmental performance using Constellation’s Microsoft Azure-based hourly carbon-free energy matching platform.

One of Microsoft’s data centers in Boydton, Virginia will be powered by up to 35 percent nuclear energy, under a new agreement with Constellation.

The nuclear power will complement Microsoft’s new wind and solar purchases and bring the data center to operating at close to 100 percent carbon-free electricity around the clock.

Microsoft will track its environmental performance using Constellation’s hourly carbon-free energy matching platform. Constellation’s Microsoft Azure-based hourly matching software is a relatively new offering for customers looking to match their power demands with regional carbon-free energy around the clock.

Prior to the evolution of hourly matching, much of the clean energy that American companies procured to reduce their use of generation from fossil fuels was produced elsewhere, at a different time of day, month or even year. This approach offered no guarantee that clean, carbon-free power was being used.

The companies said Constellation and Microsoft had been working collaboratively for several years to pioneer the hourly emissions accounting technology.

“Our collaboration with Constellation makes real-time matching of regional clean power generation and demand available to all companies that want to advance the energy transition,” said Adrian Anderson, general manager of renewable and carbon free energy at Microsoft.

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