Microsoft is deliberating internally about whether to delay or abandon its 2030 pledge to pair every hour of its electricity consumption with renewable, zero-carbon purchases, people familiar with the discussions say. The company set the target in 2021 under the label 100/100/0, committing to match 100% of its power use, 100% of the time, using purchases sourced from the same grids supplying its operations.
The hourly matching ambition represented a notable escalation from Microsoft’s earlier objective to buy enough renewable energy to equal its annual electricity consumption - a target the company has already met. The hour-by-hour requirement is operationally and logistically more demanding because it requires that supply and purchases align within the same hourly windows on the same local grids.
Sources describe the rapid expansion of data-center infrastructure - a build-out that is both capital intensive and energy hungry - as a factor shaping internal assessments of whether the prior climate commitment remains achievable as originally framed. The conversations are reportedly taking place amid heightened competition among major technology firms to secure sufficient energy supplies to power artificial intelligence workloads.
Company officials have not reached a conclusive decision, and discussions are ongoing, according to those familiar with the matter. The possible change to the 100/100/0 goal would alter a public-facing commitment first announced three years ago, but no final policy shift has been announced.
Contextual note: The information above reflects the details provided by people involved in or aware of internal talks. It does not include any formal announcement or confirmation from Microsoft.