Energy company Energia Group has started the commercial operation for its 16th wind farm - Drumlins Park in Co Monaghan - and the first of its power purchase agreement with Microsoft.
The new 49 MW wind farm is located near Newbliss and consists of eight wind turbines supplied by GE Renewable Energy.
Energia Group signed a corporate power purchase agreement with Microsoft for the project in 2022.
It said its Drumlins Park wind farm is the first project to reach commercial operations under the strategic framework agreement signed between it and Microsoft.
The framework agreement will enable Energia to construct and operate a large portfolio of new onshore wind farms and solar projects here that will supply new renewable electricity to the national grid, in support of the Government's climate action goals.
Drumlins Park will support Microsoft's goal to achieve 100% renewable energy supply globally by 2025.
Ian Thom, CEO of Energia Group, said the new wind farm is an important milestone for Energia Group, as well as for its collaboration with Microsoft, as it is the first wind farm to be delivered as part of its framework agreement.
"I look forward to continuing our collaboration with Microsoft, unlocking substantial growth in our renewable generation portfolio and delivering clean electricity for the island of Ireland," he said.
Lavinia Morris, General Manager, EMEA Data Centre Operations, Microsoft said the company is committed to supporting the decarbonisation of energy grids in the markets where the company operates.
"The commercial operation of the Drumlins Park wind farm is one of a number of projects coming online as a result of 900MWs of renewable energy projects that we announced in late 2022," Lavinia Morris said.
"This is another important step in our journey to transition to 100% renewable energy supply for all our data centres, buildings, and campuses around the world. As we seek to achieve a more sustainable future, Microsoft looks forward to continued collaboration with Energia to add net new clean energy capacity to Ireland's energy grid," she added.
