Microsoft invests in Spanish renewable energy projects

Madrid-based renewable energy firm Zelestra has announced a new partnership with Microsoft and the non-profit organisation Fundación Ecología y Desarrollo (ECODES). The collaboration includes a power purchase agreement (PPA) to supply Microsoft with energy from two new solar plants in Spain, alongside a funding initiative to support local sustainability projects.

Under the agreement, Microsoft will procure renewable energy from Zelestra’s Escatrón II and Fuendetodos II solar projects in Zaragoza, Aragón. These projects, expected to have a combined capacity exceeding 95 MW, are currently under construction.

Additionally, ECODES will receive funding to implement impactful programmes in the region, focusing on grant-making activities to support community-led sustainability initiatives, particularly for vulnerable communities. The funding will aim to expand access to sustainable infrastructure and healthy environments, promote economic inclusion, and enhance resource capacity building for organisations that serve local populations.

Scarlett Alvarez Uzcategui, Zelestra’s Chief Stakeholder and Sustainability Officer, stated, “This progressive collaboration with ECODES and Microsoft aligns perfectly with our commitment to deliver meaningful, positive impact in the communities where we operate. We will be present in Aragón for the long-term, managing our projects to support Microsoft’s clean energy needs, and we are certain that the benefits of this initiative will also have a lasting positive impact for communities nearby.”

This new initiative follows Microsoft’s launch last year of its Datacenter Community Pledge, which aims to ensure the company’s expanding datacentre footprint addresses societal challenges and benefits local communities. Microsoft has also committed to becoming carbon negative by 2030 and to powering 100% of its buildings and datacentres globally with renewable energy by 2025.

Eoin Doherty, Vice President, EMEA Regional Leader, Cloud Operations + Innovation at Microsoft, commented, “As Microsoft grows its presence in Aragón, we are committed to advancing community prosperity, well-being, and sustainability. This collaboration with Zelestra and ECODES is an important part of fulfilling this commitment and ensuring that we meet our clean energy goals in a way that delivers lasting benefits to the local community.”