Microsoft is reportedly considering whether to delay or scale back one of its most ambitious clean energy commitments as the company rapidly expands its AI data centre infrastructure.


The tech giant has been holding internal discussions over its goal of matching all of its electricity use with clean energy on an hourly basis, according to sources that spoke to Bloomberg,


Microsoft previously pledged that by 2030, it would match 100% of its hourly energy consumption with carbon-free electricity generated on the same power grid. However, the company’s aggressive push to build new AI-focused data centres has reportedly sparked concerns internally that the target could hinder broader expansion plans.


A company spokesperson told the TechCrunch outlet that Microsoft continues “to look for opportunities to maintain our annual matching goal.”


The tech platform notes that hourly clean-energy matching targets are significantly stricter than annual renewable energy goals. Seeing as electricity grids must constantly balance supply and demand in real time, hourly matching encourages the development of renewable energy sources that align more precisely with actual consumption patterns.


Annual targets, by contrast, are more flexible. For example, a company may purchase excess solar energy generated during midday hours and claim the renewable credits even if that energy is consumed by other users on the grid. While that system has helped accelerate investment in solar, wind and battery storage, critics argue it does not fully eliminate reliance on fossil fuels.


Hourly targets are considered more demanding because they push companies to support energy generation patterns that more closely resemble a genuinely net-zero electricity system.


Major technology firms, including Meta, Google and Apple, have generally positioned themselves at the forefront of corporate emissions reduction efforts, setting aggressive net-zero goals and investing heavily in renewable energy.


Microsoft said it achieved annual carbon-free energy matching last year. However, TechCrunch noted that many of these same companies are increasingly turning to natural gas as AI data centers grow in both scale and electricity demand.


The tech company itself recently announced a partnership with Chevron and Engine No. 1 to develop a large natural gas-powered facility in West Texas that could eventually produce up to 5 gigawatts of electricity.


By Nazrin Sadigova