Microsoft VP: Wind And Solar Energy In The US Still Potentially Grows For Data Centers

Wind power plants have challenges because of their intermittent nature (photo: x @CHnGreenEnergy)

JAKARTA The energy development of wind and solar in the United States still has a large space to expand to supply electricity to data centers, especially in the corridor of theapprogram wind and the solar-rich southwest region. This was conveyed by Microsoft's Vice President of Energy, Bobby total, at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston on Wednesday, March 12.

The rapid expansion of energy-hungry data centers by large technology companies to support artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud services has changed the previously stagnant US electric industry. Increased demand for electricity raises the question of whether carbon-free renewable energy will be replaced by gas-fueled power plants.

"We still see a very long way for renewable energy to remain an important part of the energy mix, especially in possible places", said Ruzi, quoted by Reuters by VOI.

Microsoft, which five years ago committed to becoming a company with negative carbon emissions by 2030, is currently expanding its largest data center compared to any company in the world. The company plans to invest 80 billion US dollars (IDR 1,314 trillion) this year to build infrastructure that requires large amounts of electricity supply.

Even so, solar and wind power have challenges because of their intermittent nature, only producing electricity when the sun shines or the wind blows. This is an obstacle for data centers that have to operate 24 hours a day without stopping.

Meanwhile, cheap and abundant natural gas is increasingly becoming a fast choice for large electric users who previously attempted to lead the transition to carbon-free energy. While it can provide electricity around the clock, the use of natural gas still produces emissions that contribute to global warming.

"Add more gas if necessary", saidLA, who said Microsoft had secured more than 30 gigawatts of renewable energy globally. "But before we get to that stage, make sure first that we have increased the capacity of renewable energy."

According to him, the central region of the US, which has strong and steady winds, is well suited for the development of wind-powered data centers. Meanwhile, solar energy can be expanded in the southeastern part of the US which is rich in sunlight.