Microsoft is establishing a new cloud region in Sweden that will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy and be among the most sustainably designed and operated in the world. Microsoft has selected Preem AB’s (Stockholm, Sweden) to be a supplier of a low-carbon fuel that can be used for the Sweden datacenters’ backup generators.
Microsoft’s datacenters include generators to provide essential backup power to support business continuity in case of service interruptions or outages. Preem Evolution Diesel Plus, the world´s first Nordic Eco-labelled diesel, will now be available as an option for powering backup generators at Microsoft´s Swedish datacenters.
One important factor is that Preem Evolution Diesel Plus contains at least 50 percent renewable raw material, which entails an almost equivalent reduction in net carbon dioxide emissions compared with standard fossil diesel. Another important factor in Microsoft’s selection of Preem Evolution Diesel Plus was the company’s commitment to sustainably sourced feedstocks for their renewable fuels.
“While diesel fuel accounts for less than one percent of our overall emissions, we believe it is important to help accelerate the global transition away from fossil fuels and a step to help drive demand for sustainably-sourced, low-carbon fuels,” said Noelle Walsh, corporate vice president, cloud operations and innovation, Microsoft.
Generators at datacenters are used as a backup power supply and have historically used conventional fossil-based diesel. This is the first time a cloud service provider has the firm intention to introduce a more sustainable fuel such as Preem Evolution Diesel Plus. The work has taken place in close collaboration with Microsoft and Caterpillar, the supplier of the generators at the Swedish datacenters.
By choosing Preem Evolution Diesel Plus as a fuel option for Microsoft’s Swedish datacenters, the company expects at least 45 percent lower net carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional diesel fuel.
“Preem wants to be part of the transition to sustainability and today invests significant resources in developing the market’s most sustainable fuels. We are extremely pleased that Microsoft has chosen to collaborate with us in its journey toward becoming carbon dioxide negative by 2030. The collaboration with Microsoft and Caterpillar bodes well for the future”, says Christian Bjerdén, VP Head of Sales at Preem.