Microsoft has opened three data center facilities in Sweden since 2020. Its Staffanstorp, Skåne County, data center faced criticism for its reliance on diesel generators. In an effort to mitigate environmental concerns, Microsoft previously adopted a partly-renewable diesel variant, containing a minimum of 50% renewable material. However, planning oppositions in Staffanstorp led Microsoft to reconsider its expansion plans.

A company spokesperson emphasized that the change was not entirely a result of public opposition. The soaring demand for Microsoft’s cloud services and secure data storage necessitates larger data centers than initially planned in Staffanstorp. Microsoft intends to proceed with its operations at this facility, but will only utilize the currently established reserve power units.

The 16-month deployment of the BESS by Saft involved the integration of eight Intensium Max 20 High Energy battery containers. The units can deliver a peak power rating of 3MW each. Moreover, the BESS supports grid stability, offering a black start capability to assure quick power grid recovery after outages.

Eoin Doherty, General Manager, EMEA, Microsoft Cloud Operations & Innovation, said, “Transitioning from diesel backup systems is crucial for our 2030 goal of becoming carbon negative. This step is vital to our 2050 objective of offsetting all carbon emissions produced by Microsoft since its inception in 1975.”

“TotalEnergies is proud to support Microsoft in its goal to reduce its emissions from data centers. The collaboration with Microsoft has allowed its affiliate Saft to deliver this system, which shows the huge potential for battery energy storage to decarbonize the digital industry.”, said Cedric Duclos, Saft’s CEO.

Carbon Emissions from the Digital Industry

The digital industry, which encompasses data centers, telecommunications, devices (such as computers and smartphones), and online services, is a significant consumer of electricity. As the heart of the digital age, data centers store, process, and manage vast amounts of data. Their servers run 24/7, requiring continuous power. Cooling systems, which prevent servers from overheating, further add to their energy consumption. If these centers rely on non-renewable energy sources, their carbon emissions can be substantial.

With the increasing reliance on cloud storage, streaming services, artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), the demand for data processing is skyrocketing. This results in the need for more data centers, leading to increased energy consumption.

The digital industry’s carbon emissions contribute to the overall greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, accelerating global warming and climate change. As the digital industry expands, it competes for power with other critical sectors, potentially straining energy grids and resources.