Ontario Power Generation and Microsoft announce strategic partnership to power a Net-Zero future for Ontario

On September 26, 2022, Ontario Power Generation (“OPG”) and Microsoft Canada Inc. (“Microsoft Canada”) announced a Canada-first strategic partnership aimed at tackling climate change and driving sustainable growth across Ontario.

In connection with the partnership, OPG and Microsoft entered into a 10-year Clean Energy Credit (CEC) purchase agreement pursuant to which Microsoft will procure CECs sourced from OPG's carbon-free hydro and nuclear assets in Ontario on an hourly basis. The purchase will enable Microsoft to advance progress on its 100/100/0 by 2030 goal whereby Microsoft committed to powering its datacentres globally with carbon-free energy, around the clock.

Along with the purchase of CECs, the two companies will also collaborate on several sustainability initiatives, including:

• Co-developing an hourly energy matching platform, utilizing Microsoft Azure IoT and AI technology, to match a customer's power needs with local carbon-free energy sources, giving customers greater transparency and accuracy on their emissions impact.
• OPG selection of Microsoft's Azure as its cloud platform to modernize applications, IT infrastructure and services, accelerating its migration to the cloud and transforming business operations to reduce its carbon footprint.
• Exploration of digital co-innovation opportunities to accelerate OPG's Small Modular Reactor (SMR) program, with a goal of developing a service that other global energy providers can leverage in the future to deploy SMRs locally, fast-tracking clean energy solutions.
• Evaluation of procurement of CECs—beyond the current CEC agreement, under a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding—associated with the carbon-free energy produced by the soon-to-be-constructed SMR at the Darlington New Nuclear Project site.

In addition, OPG has joined the CEO Pledge, an initiative launched by Microsoft Canada, to commit its used technology to the Government of Canada's Computers for Schools Plus (CSF+) program, with the goal of bridging the digital divide. The two companies will also roll-out a series of digital skilling initiatives to provide Indigenous communities with tangible opportunities, including skills-building to increase economic and employment options.

Further information can be found on Canada Newswire’s website.

OPG is a climate change leader and the largest, most diverse electricity generator in the province of Ontario.

Microsoft Canada is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation, the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.