Microsoft CEO of Satya Nadella speaks at the event of artificial intelligence technologies in Jakarta, Indonesia on April 30, 2024.
Dimas Ardian | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Houston – Microsoft It is open to deploying natural gas with carbon -capture technology for the power centers for artificial intelligence, the CNBC Vice President of the Energy Company told CNBC.
“That would not be out of the table,” Bobby Hollis said. However, the executive director said Microsoft would consider natural gas with carbon only if the project “commercially sustainable and cost the competition”.
Oil and gas companies developed Carbon capture technology For years, but the industry struggled to start it at a commercial level due to the high costs related to such projects. Technology is recorded by carbon dioxide emissions from industrial sites and stores them deep underground.
Microsoft has ambitious climate resolution goals, with the aim of harmonizing all of its electricity consumption with energy without carbon by 2030. Tech Company has purchased more than 30 renewable energy gigavates in search of this purpose. However, the technological sector has concluded that only renewable energy sources are not enough to power the demanding needs for supply centers.
Microsoft turned to nuclear energy last year, signing a contract to support the restart of the Three Mile Island through an electricity purchase agreement from the currently closed plant. But it is unlikely that the US will build a significant amount of additional unclear power by the 2030s.
Data Center developers are increasingly seeing natural gas as a short -term power solution despite the emission of carbon dioxide. Trump administration is focused on strengthening natural gas production. Energy secretary Chris Wright said on Monday that renewable energy cannot replace the role of gas in electricity production.
“We were always aware that Fossil would not disappear as quickly as we would all hope,” Hollis said. “We used to know that natural gas was a very short -term solution we see, especially for ai implementation.”
Exxon Mobil and Chevron announced last December to enter the data space with development plans Natural gas facilities with carbon capture technology. Chevron reached an agreement with the Gas Turbine manufacturer Ge Vernovo in January under the construction of gas facilities for data centers “with flexibility to integrate” the technology of capturing and storage of carbon.
Hollis refused to say if Microsoft’s talks had oil. Executive director said the technological company is “discussing everything with all these technologies.”
President Donald Trump said at the World Economic Forum in January that he would use emergency forces to accelerate the construction of power plants for data centers. Trump said data centers can use everything they want. Chevron and Ge Vernova announced their plan to build gas plants for data centers for days after Trump’s remarks.
“We are glad to see that there is a focus on accelerated schedules to fulfill what we consider to be a rather critical need,” Hollis said when asked about the plans of Trump’s administration.
But distribution of natural gas faces its own challenges. The cost of new natural gas facilities has tripped and the plant construction line is now extending on 2030, said Nexter CEO John Ketchum on Monday. Nexter is the largest renewable energy developer in the US, but it also has gas assets.
“Renewable sources are ready for now because they have been starting,” Ketchum said at a conference. “It is cheaper and is available at the moment, unless you already have a turbine turbine or is already allowed.”
Ketchum said nuclear is unlikely to be a power solution by 2035. Nexter is considering restarting the Mothball Duane Arnold nuclear factory in Iowa.
