Microsoft and Qcells have partnered to support a robust supply chain for additional renewable electricity capacity anticipated to require at least 2.5 gigawatts of solar panels and related services, which is the equivalent of powering over 400,000 households.
In addition to developing solar projects with Microsoft, Qcells will supply panels and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services to a few solar projects that Microsoft has contracted for through PPAs (PPAs).
As part of efforts to expand the use of renewable energy on the grid, Microsoft will promote Qcells’ solar products, including those produced locally. A one-stop shop for renewable energy solutions, Qcells is the only business in the US to have a full solar supply chain.
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This partnership marks the first time an energy-purchasing corporation has collaborated directly with a solar supplier to deploy renewable energy on a large scale.
The new partnership is a result of the collective commitments of the two companies to diversify the world’s energy supply chain, actively drive the creation of more dependable energy supply chains both domestically and overseas and lower carbon emissions.
The Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, Brad Smith said that building a resilient solar energy supply chain is essential to advancing a global green energy economy, hence Microsoft’s partnership with Qcells will help make this vision a reality by bringing innovation and investment to rural Georgia.
“As one of the world’s largest purchasers of renewable energy, this work will help bring more solar energy to the grid, faster,” he added.
Story was adapted from EnviroNews.
