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    ET Flashback: Enchanted Rock delivering RNG-fueled Microgrid for Microsoft Data Center in California

    Dec. 14, 2022
    The system will be backup power for Microsoft’s San Jose, California, data center. The companies said it will be the largest microgrid in the state and will reduce emissions 96 percent compared to alternatives such as diesel
    Virginia data center. Image credit Microsoft
    Virginia data center. Image credit Microsoft

    (Editor's Note: this story originally posted in EnergyTech.com in June. We are reposting to let our readers know that Enchanted Rock and the Electric Power Research Institute will headline a free webinar Jan. 11 on renewable natural gas and energy resiliency. Register here.)

    Microsoft is contracting microgrid firm Enchanted Rock to provide data center gen-sets fueled by renewable natural gas.

    The system will be backup power for Microsoft’s San Jose, California, data center. The companies said it will be the largest microgrid in the state and will reduce emissions 96 percent compared to alternatives such as diesel.

    “Today’s digital world relies on the uptime and continuity of data center operations,” said Thomas McAndrew, CEO of Houston-based Enchanted Rock. “This continuity does not need to come at the expense of companies’ carbon emission reduction goals or local air quality. Microsoft’s decision to pursue a renewable microgrid marks another milestone in the industry as businesses continue to move away from conventional, less carbon-friendly methods, and we expect this project will demonstrate that large-scale, reliable, and cost-effective back-up generation with net-zero carbon can become the new standard.”

    Microsoft has vowed to become carbon negative by 2030.

    “This project helps Microsoft take a step towards our goal of eliminating dependence on petroleum-based diesel, while increasing the resilience of our data center and providing a much-needed capacity resource to the local grid,” said Brian Janous, Microsoft’s general manager for DC Energy and Sustainability.

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    Power for the microgrid will be supplied by net-zero carbon RNG, injected upstream into the gas pipeline to offset the use of fossil gas. Enchanted Rock will source RNG captured from facilities that emit methane such as food waste and agricultural operations, making it part of the circular economy with neutral or negative carbon intensity.

    California has close to 240 data centers spread across the state. Overall, data centers globally consume close to 200 terawatt hours of energy per year, or 200 million MWh.

    Enhancing Resiliency for the Energy Transition

    White Paper highlight Critical Role for Microgrids as long-duration Backup Power

    About the Author

    Rod Walton, EnergyTech Managing Editor | Senior Editor

    For EnergyTech editorial inquiries, please contact Managing Editor Rod Walton at [email protected].

    Rod Walton has spent 15 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist. He formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    Walton earned his Bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. His career stops include the Moore American, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, Wagoner Tribune and Tulsa World. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids. The C&I sectors together account for close to 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.

    He was named Managing Editor for Microgrid Knowledge and EnergyTech starting July 1, 2023

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.

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