Microsoft completes first renewable energy deal in India to power its offices with solar energy

Microsoft said it completed its first renewable energy deal in India which will help power its new office building here with solar power. As part of the deal, the tech giant will purchase three megawatts of solar-powered electricity from Bengaluru-based renewable power. This will meet 80 percent of the projected electricity needs at the new facility, Microsoft said. This deal is part of the Karnataka government's programme to encourage investments in local solar energy operations, and in line with the larger Indian government goal to ramp up solar power generation to 100 gigawatts by 2022. This is Microsoft's first solar energy agreement in India, and one of the first in Asia — the company completed a new solar agreement in Singapore last week. Once completed, this project will bring Microsoft's total global direct procurement in renewable energy projects to nearly 900 megawatts.