Microsoft’s Bold Move: How Wood-Built Data Centers Are Pioneering Carbon Reduction

Steel and concrete are significant contributors to Microsoft’s carbon emissions, prompting the tech giant to explore innovative solutions. In an ambitious move to combat rising carbon levels, Microsoft has announced plans to construct a groundbreaking new data centre using wood as a primary building material. Although the idea of a wooden data centre may seem unconventional, Microsoft’s engineers have developed a hybrid approach that features advanced cross-laminated timber (CLT).

CLT is a remarkable, fire-resistant material known for its prefabricated design and ultra-lightweight properties. This innovative choice allows Microsoft to substantially minimise the reliance on traditional steel and concrete, both of which are major sources of carbon emissions in construction. While the new facility will incorporate a steel and concrete floor structure for durability across its two-story design, the overall construction will operate and function similarly to a conventional data centre made with these traditional materials.

This pioneering construction project is projected to significantly lower the embodied carbon footprint of the two new data centres—by an impressive 35% compared to standard steel structures and a notable 65% in comparison to typical concrete structures. Through this initiative, Microsoft is not only taking a step towards sustainability but also setting a new standard in environmentally conscious design within the tech industry.

Microsoft’s recent initiative aligns with its broader corporate commitment to decarbonisation, emphasising an urgent ‘all hands on deck’ strategy to reduce emissions, as articulated by Jim Hanna, the sustainability lead for the company’s data centres. A key aspect of this initiative is the use of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), which has emerged as a significant material in this context. Microsoft believes that its new data centre project in northern Virginia may stand out as one of the pioneering hyper-scale implementations of engineered wood within a US data centre.

As part of its ambitious goal to achieve carbon negativity by 2030, Microsoft has been diligently exploring diverse energy sources and actively working to lower the environmental impact of its expanding portfolio of data centres, known for their significant energy demands. Earlier this year, the company took a significant step by announcing a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with energy provider Constellation, aimed at revitalising a nuclear reactor at Pennsylvania’s infamous Three Mile Island.

However, despite these proactive measures, the company’s sustainability journey faces challenges. Recent internal reports reveal a concerning increase in carbon emissions, which surged by a staggering 29% in 2023. This rise is largely attributed to the rapid expansion of data centres focused on artificial intelligence, underscoring the complexities of balancing technological advancement with environmental sustainability.