Thursday 25 February 2021
Microsoft and Accenture collaborate to speed up UK’s net zero transition
Microsoft and Accenture are teaming up to leverage their expertise in cloud, data and artificial intelligence (AI) to help accelerate the UK's transition to net zero carbon emissions.
The companies in collaboration with their joint venture, Avanade, will work together to help utilities and energy companies transform the energy system and lower the cost of decarbonising the demand and supply of electricity in the UK.
They will help utilities and energy clients decarbonise the supply of energy by reducing the cost of renewable generation by up to 25% and increasing its role in system balancing as well as support the cost-effective electrification of energy demand, which includes enabling 50% of the new power demand for transportation and heating to contribute to balancing a system where more than 70% of the power generated is from renewable sources.
In addition, the companies will also focus on efficiently matching supply and demand for an electricity system that is zero carbon by 2025 and help clients realise a 20% reduction in the cost of meeting increasing power demand through innovative approaches to network design, construction and operation.
These efforts will be supported through the use of open industry data to provide more secure, consistent and accessible information that will drive efficiency, support cross-industry innovation around new markets and improve asset performance and optimisation.
Toby Siddal, a Managing Director and Lead for Accenture's Resources Business in the UK and Ireland said: “The UK's targets for net zero push focus onto the energy and utilities sectors through which the most significant impacts on decarbonisation can be made. The time for action is now and it will require innovative new approaches, solutions and ecosystems.
“Our integrated approach to decarbonisation stems from a mutual belief that data and digital transformation are essential in enabling the transition to a low carbon future and it can lead to growth, new skills and competitiveness for the UK. We believe it is a perfect focus for this collaboration between Accenture, Avanade and Microsoft, which can help drive the step changes needed.”
Avanade will combine its digital skills and capabilities with Microsoft technology to deliver digital transformation.
Clare Barclay, CEO at Microsoft UK added: “Last year, Microsoft announced we would be carbon negative by 2030 and remove our entire carbon footprint by 2050. A fundamental way in which we aim to achieve these targets is through technological innovation. Likewise, we pledged to develop and deploy digital technologies to help others reduce their carbon footprints.
“As part of our commitment to creating a greener and sustainable world, we are proud to partner with Accenture and Avanade to deploy technologies to help UK-based utility companies transform the generation, storage and supply of clean energy.”
