Microsoft signs a PPA for 95.7 MWac of new solar capacity in Aragón to support its clean energy and datacenter commitments.
The agreement includes a dedicated community benefits fund managed by ECODES to advance local sustainability and social inclusion efforts.
The initiative links corporate renewable procurement with region-wide social investment, reflecting rising expectations on just transition governance.
Aragón agreement ties renewable procurement to local impact
A new renewable energy agreement in Spain is linking corporate power demand with community-level environmental and social funding, as Zelestra, Microsoft and ECODES launch a multi-year collaboration tied to two solar facilities now under construction in Aragón.
Zelestra confirmed that Microsoft has entered into a long-term Power Purchase Agreement for clean electricity from the Escatrón II and Fuendetodos II solar projects. Together, the sites will add 95.7 MWac of new capacity in Zaragoza province. The move supports Microsoft’s expanding operations in the region, including cloud infrastructure, while feeding directly into the company’s carbon-negative goal and its Datacenter Community Pledge.
Beyond the supply agreement, the three organisations have embedded a structured community benefits mechanism into the contract. Funding from the PPA will support a locally administered sustainability and inclusion programme run by the Aragón-based nonprofit ECODES. The model reflects a shift underway in Europe and globally: corporate buyers are now expected not only to procure clean electricity but to demonstrate how renewable development contributes to local resilience and equity.
Community funds targeted toward inclusion and environmental quality
Under the agreement, ECODES will design and lead the grant-making programme, focusing on initiatives that expand access to sustainable infrastructure and healthy environments, strengthen economic participation, and reinforce the capacity of local organisations. Early priorities include support for vulnerable communities and groups facing higher exposure to energy costs, climate risks or limited access to green services.
For ECODES, the partnership fits squarely within its mission to advance a just ecological transition across Spain — one that engages local actors and distributes benefits fairly. Cecilia Foronda, Head of Action for a Just Ecological Transition at ECODES, said: “This collaboration with Zelestra and Microsoft is a unique opportunity to help accelerate the transition to a green, inclusive, and responsible economy in Aragon and across Spain. ECODES commits to listen to local stakeholders so that the benefits of this collaboration reach those who need them most, strengthening social participation and territorial balance and leaving no one behind.”
Community-linked PPAs have gained traction as governments and investors push for stronger ESG governance around new renewable assets. They serve both as risk-management tools — improving local acceptance and long-term project resilience — and as mechanisms to ensure that large corporate buyers contribute to socioeconomic development in areas hosting new infrastructure.
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Zelestra framed the initiative as part of its global 3 Es strategy — Education, Energy and Environment — which embeds social investment into its development model. Scarlett Alvarez Uzcategui, the company’s Chief Stakeholder and Sustainability Officer, said: “This progressive collaboration with ECODES and Microsoft aligns perfectly with our commitment to deliver meaningful, positive impact in the communities where we operate. We will be present in Aragón for the long-term, managing our projects to support Microsoft’s clean energy needs, and we are certain that the benefits of this initiative will also have a lasting positive impact for communities nearby.”
From Microsoft’s perspective, the agreement consolidates its energy strategy in one of its fastest-growing European hubs. The company has signalled that future digital infrastructure expansion depends on reliable, additional renewable electricity supply in each host country. Eoin Doherty, Vice President, EMEA Regional Leader, Cloud Operations + Innovation, said: “As Microsoft grows its presence in Aragon, we are committed to advancing community prosperity, well-being, and sustainability. This collaboration with Zelestra and ECODES is an important part of fulfilling this commitment and ensuring that we meet our clean energy goals in a way that delivers lasting benefits to the local community.”
Implications for energy buyers, investors and policymakers
The Aragón partnership offers a blueprint for how corporate PPAs can be structured to meet the social expectations attached to Europe’s energy transition. For governments, it demonstrates how procurement frameworks can attract investment while reinforcing local development objectives. For investors, it signals an emerging governance norm: adding community-impact conditions can strengthen project stability and help de-risk assets in regions where public acceptance is pivotal.
As Spain accelerates renewable deployment and strengthens its climate and energy policies, collaborations that couple clean power with socioeconomic investment are likely to become more influential. For global corporates with rising electricity demand — especially digital infrastructure operators — the Aragón model illustrates how clean energy procurement can evolve from a contractual transaction into a long-term regional partnership with measurable ESG value.
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