Microsoft and bp announced today the creation of a strategic partnership to advance the net zero carbon goals of each company, and to further digital transformation ‎in energy systems. The partnership includes co-innovation efforts focused on digital solutions, the continued use of Microsoft Azure as a cloud-based ‎solution for bp infrastructure and bp supplying renewable energy to help Microsoft meet its 2025 ‎renewable energy goals.‎

bp and Microsoft have both introduced ambitious climate goals this year. bp announced that it is aiming to become a net zero emissions company by 2050 or ‎sooner, and in August, the company launched an initiative that will see major reductions in bp’s oil and gas production over the next 10 years, offset by substantial growth in low carbon energy investment and production. Early this year, Microsoft announced plans to be carbon negative by 2030, and by 2050, to remove from the environment all carbon the company has emitted since its founding in 1975.

William Lin, bp Executive Vice President for regions, cities & solutions, said:

“bp is determined to get to net zero and to help the world do the same. No one can do it alone – ‎partnerships with leading companies like Microsoft, with aligned ambitions, are going to be key to ‎achieving this. By ‎bringing our complementary skills and experience together, we are not only helping each other ‎achieve our decarbonization ambitions but also creating opportunities to support others on their ‎journey towards reducing carbon emissions.”‎

‎Judson Althoff, Executive Vice President of Microsoft’s Worldwide Commercial Business, said:

‎“bp shares our vision for a net zero carbon future, and we are committed to working together to ‎drive reductions in carbon emissions and fulfil demand with new renewable energy sources. A ‎strategic partnership such as this enables each organization to bring its unique expertise for industry-‎leading change and the potential to positively impact billions of lives around the world.”

The companies stated that their co-innovation efforts will initially focus on four areas that combine ‎Microsoft’s digital expertise with bp’s deep understanding of energy markets, including smart and clean cities, clean energy parks, consumer energy and industrial internet of things (IoT) solutions.

bp announced that it has extended its agreement to use Microsoft ‎Azure cloud services as a strategic platform, expanding on the company’s existing relationship with ‎Microsoft, which helped accelerate the digitization of bp infrastructure and operations.

As part of the new partnership, the companies announced that they have signed a framework agreement for renewable energy projects that aims to ‎provide renewable energy to help power Microsoft’s datacentres. According to the agreement, bp will supply renewable ‎energy to Microsoft across multiple countries and regions including the US, Europe and Latin ‎America.