Microsoft in Japan: "Another 100MW" - Powering the AI Era with Solar Energy: Microsoft's Next Move is Solar Power

Microsoft has signed a PPA with Shizen Energy to procure a total of 100MW from four domestic solar power plants over 20 years. One of these plants is already operational, while the other three are under construction, located in the Kyushu and Chugoku regions. This is part of the company's efforts to secure power sources in response to the increasing demand for AI and cloud services, aligning with its goals of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2025 and becoming carbon negative/24/7 CFE by 2030. On social media, there is widespread positive feedback, with many praising the "full-scale domestic PPA" and the "coexistence of AI and decarbonization." However, there are also concerns about the difficulty of achieving time alignment with solar power alone, highlighting the need for strengthening portfolios with battery storage and zero-carbon nighttime power sources, as well as enhancing the power grid in the future.