Qcells seeks to supply more than 2.5 gigawatts
of solar panels and EPC services to solar project developers in
partnership with Microsoft
The first-of-its-kind collaboration is rooted
in the companies' collective commitments to diversify the global
energy supply chain and reduce carbon emissions
SAN
FRANCISCO, Jan. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Qcells, a
global solar leader investing in building a U.S. solar supply
chain, and Microsoft Corp., a global technology company with a
commitment to be carbon negative by 2030, are partnering to enable
a strong supply chain for new renewable electricity capacity
projected to require at least 2.5 gigawatts of solar panels
and related services — equivalent to powering over 400,000
homes.
Qcells, owned by Hanwha Solutions headquartered in Seoul, will work with Microsoft to develop
solar projects as well as provide panels and engineering,
procurement and construction (EPC) services to selected solar
projects Microsoft has contracted for through power purchase
agreements (PPAs).
Microsoft has committed to purchasing renewable energy with a
goal of achieving 100% coverage of electricity
consumption with renewable energy by 2025. Microsoft is
extending its sustainability activities to support domestic
production of green energy equipment in the regions it operates
globally. Microsoft is supporting Qcells' solar products, including
those manufactured domestically, to bring more renewable energy to
the grid. Qcells is the only company in the U.S. that will have a
complete solar supply chain and provides one-stop clean energy
solutions.
Addressing the growing need for a sustainable solar value
chain
This alliance is the first time a company that procures energy
is working directly with a solar supplier to adopt clean energy on
a big scale. The new collaboration is rooted in the two companies'
collective commitments to diversify the global energy supply chain,
proactively lead the development of more reliable energy supply
chains in the United States and
abroad, and reduce carbon emissions.
"Building a resilient solar energy supply chain is essential to
advancing a global green energy economy. Microsoft's partnership
with Qcells will help make this vision a reality by bringing
innovation and investment to rural Georgia," said Brad
Smith, vice chair and president, Microsoft. "As one of the
world's largest purchasers of renewable energy, this work will help
bring more solar energy to the grid, faster."
"We're striving to build and deliver turnkey clean energy
solutions, including those made in America, and this partnership
with Microsoft will help accomplish this vision," said Justin Lee, CEO of Qcells. "Similarly, Qcells is
proud to play a role with Microsoft to bring more renewable energy
online in the years to come. This first step is only the beginning
of a great partnership that not only supports our two companies but
helps deliver a clean energy future for customers and
communities."
Growing need for American-made solar products is expected to
accelerate Qcells' transition into a one-stop shop for clean energy
solutions. Being the only company in the U.S. with a complete solar
supply chain, Qcells intends to become a leading developer for
solar and other clean energy solutions such as energy storage
system. Combining its growing EPC expertise with smart energy
management system, Qcells will continue to provide completely clean
energy solutions and lead the global fight against climate
change.
Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft) enables digital
transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an
intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every
organization on the planet to achieve more.
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SOURCE Microsoft Corp.