Hydropower is part of the renewable energy portfolio that has enabled Microsoft to meet its goal of matching 100% of its global electricity consumption with renewable energy.
A key component is a long-term power purchase agreement with Brookfield Renewable covering output from the Hawk’s Nest hydroelectric plant in West Virginia. The 1936 facility is being modernised, with investment supporting life extension and enabling a portion of its generation to be delivered into the regional grid for the first time under this structure.
The hydro agreement forms part of a broader multi-gigawatt renewable framework between Microsoft and Brookfield Renewable covering projects in the US and Europe through 2030.
Microsoft said it has now contracted approximately 40GW of renewable capacity across 26 countries, with about 19 GW already operational. The company uses long-term power purchase agreements, typically 10–15 years in duration, to secure supply and provide revenue certainty for project developers.
While solar and wind account for most of the contracted capacity, the inclusion of hydropower adds dispatchable, carbon-free generation to the portfolio. For data centres and digital infrastructure operators facing rising electricity demand, firm renewable capacity can complement variable generation and support grid reliability.
Microsoft’s renewable procurement strategy reflects a broader trend among large electricity users seeking long-term clean power contracts to manage carbon exposure and secure supply in competitive power markets.
