With operations in Europe, North and South America, Australasia, Asia and Africa, BP delivers energy solutions across the world.
Bernard Looney, CEO of BP. BP plans to supply Microsoft with renewable energy in a move that reinforces both companies’ commitment to combat climate change.
BP plans to supply Microsoft with renewable energy in a move that reinforces both companies’ commitment to combat climate change.
The British oil company and the Seattle tech giant said Tuesday they signed an agreement to work together as “strategic partners” to improve the use of technology in the energy industry. They also plan to work towards net zero-carbon targets. BP plans to supply renewable energy from wind and solar to Microsoft to power its data centers. While Microsoft plans to help BP use Internet cloud technology to improve its operations.
“Bp is determined to get to zero and help the world do the same,” William Lin, BP’s executive vice president for regions, cities and solutions said in a statement. “No one can do it alone; partnerships with leading companies like Microsoft, with aligned ambitions, will be key to achieving this.”
BP is seeking a piece of the growing renewable energy market as major companies, particularly in the tech sector, are shifting away from fossil fuels to more sustainable energy sources. Microsoft said in January that it will stop using carbon dioxide-emitting energy by 2030. This week, Google followed suit, announcing plans to go “carbon-free” by the end of this decade.
ENERGY TRANSITION: Oil demand could fall by 80 percent by 2050 under net zero policies
BP, which announced plans in February to become a net zero carbon emitter by 2050. They forecasts that renewable energy will be the fastest-growing source of energy in the next three decades, while oil demand could possibly peak. The share of wind and solar energy will increase from around 5 percent in 2018 to between 20 and 60 percent by 2050, depending on how aggressive countries, businesses and consumers are in adopting efforts to combat the climate change.
Under its deal with Microsoft, BP plans to supply the tech giant with renewable energy to power data centers in the United States, Europe and Latin America. The agreement helps Microsoft meet its goal of using 100 percent renewable energy by 2025.