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    Microsoft Tapping into Microgrids and RNG to Power Data Center During Grid Outages

    Dec. 13, 2023
    The microgrid will also provide Microsoft with 80% to 96% lower local emissions than required by the EPA
    Image Source: Microsoft
    657a099deb7972001efaa9e5 Microsoft

    Microsoft has announced a partnership with Enchanted Rock, an electrical resiliency microgrid provider, and U.S. Energy to power Microsoft's new data center in San Jose during grid outages or when California's Base Interruptible Power (BIP) is activated. 

    The partners will work to procure renewable natural gas (RNG) to fuel Enchanted Rock's electrical resiliency-as-a-service and ultra-low-emission generators to avoid disruptions during operations. 

    Enchanted Rock and Microgrids Both Part of Content at Microgrid Knowledge

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    By utilizing the carbon-neutral RNG, the resiliency microgrid will help Microsoft's San Jose data center achieve maximum uptime by providing reliable backup power during grid outages. The microgrid will also provide Microsoft with 80% to 96% lower local emissions than required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

    U.S. Energy will deliver RNG sourced from diverted food waste, which would have otherwise been sent to landfills. The RNG will be injected upstream through a pipeline to match natural gas usage at the site and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement also allows for flexibility in the amount of RNG being supplied. 

    Procurement of the RNG is scheduled to commence in early 2026, and together, these initiatives are set to help Microsoft reach its goal of becoming carbon-negative by 2030.

    About the Author

    Breanna Sandridge, Senior Editor

    Breanna Sandridge is senior editor for EnergyTech and Microgrid Knowledge, both part of the energy group at Endeavor Business Media.

    Prior to that, Breanna was managing editor for Machinery Lubrication and Reliable Plant magazines, both part of Noria Corp. She has two years experience covering the industrial sector.

    She also is a 2021 graduate of Northeastern State University (Oklahoma) with a Bachelor's in English. 

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