Microsoft signed an eight-year deal with Qcells, the largest solar panel maker in the USA, for enough panels to add 12 gigawatts of solar power to the grid, Trellis (formerly GreenBiz) reported on January 17, 2024.
The deal
- About 1.5 gigawatts of modules a year through 2032, enough to power 1.8 million homes.
- That is about one-third of all solar added to the USA grid in 2023, based on SEIA and Wood Mackenzie data.
- Qcells will also provide engineering, procurement and construction services.
- Financial terms were not disclosed, and the deal is not exclusive.
USA factories
Qcells, part of a South Korean group, is investing $2.5 billion in solar factories in Georgia, starting with an expansion in Dalton, and already makes about 5 gigawatts of panels and parts a year there. Its polysilicon is made with hydropower in Washington State. The deal was made possible by Inflation Reduction Act incentives for domestic solar manufacturing, the report said.
“Supply chains can become a bottleneck. We have to make sure that when surprises happen, we can still make our commitment.”
Bobby Hollis, Vice President of Energy, Microsoft
FAQ
How big is the Microsoft–Qcells deal?
12 gigawatts over eight years, about 1.5 gigawatts a year through 2032.
Where are the panels made?
At Qcells factories in Georgia, with polysilicon from Washington State.
What is the power for?
Solar farms that offset electricity used by Microsoft data centers.
Source & credit
Source: Trellis (GreenBiz), January 17, 2024: “Microsoft will buy enough U.S.-made solar panels to power 1.8 million homes”.