Clean energy aggregator and financing platform Powertrust announced a new agreement with Microsoft, with the companies collaborating to support the deployment of 270 MW of distributed solar projects across Mexico and Brazil over the next four years.
Founded in 2020, Vancouver-based Powertrust supports companies’ clean energy procurement and helps to finance distributed solar development in fast growing markets, by aggregating small-scale renewable energy projects. The company’s platform focuses on Distributed Renewable Energy Certificates (D-RECs), which provides transparent and verified impact for companies sourcing clean energy, while opening up revenue streams for renewable energy suppliers to support new and existing solar projects.
Under the new collaboration, Microsoft will purchase RECs generated by Powertrust’s solar projects in Mexico and Brazil. In addition to scaling new clean energy projects and reducing emissions, the companies highlighted other benefits to local communities from the collaboration, including enabling energy bill savings to low-income households, helping create local jobs and supporting workforce development through training programs in solar installation and maintenance, ensuring inclusive project development and long-term community engagement through partnerships with local NGOs and community leaders, and supporting education, healthcare, and infrastructure initiatives.
Powertrust CEO Nick Fedorkiw said:
“This collaboration with Microsoft is a powerful example of how corporate climate leadership can go hand-in-hand with community empowerment. By investing in distributed solar in Mexico and Brazil, we’re not only accelerating the clean energy transition, but also delivering tangible benefits to the people who need it most.”
In 2021, Microsoft launched a “100/100/0 clean energy goal,” with the company targeting having 100% of its electricity consumption, 100% percent of the time, matched by purchases from zero carbon energy sources by 2030, adding to its prior commitment to use 100% renewable energy in its buildings and datacenters globally by 2025. Microsoft has also committed to become carbon negative by 2030, and to cover 100% of its electricity consumption in its buildings and datacenters globally with renewable energy by 2025.
Danielle Decatur, Director, Microsoft Energy Team, said:
“Microsoft is committed to building a more sustainable future in which communities can prosper. Our collaboration with Powertrust reflects our belief that enables new sustainability infrastructure that is fairly developed and enhances the health, safety, and overall well-being of local communities.”
