This expansion is part of a new strategic framework agreement between Eaton and Microsoft designed to address major industry developments, including digital transformation, sustainability and the energy transition.

This will allow for a new generation of ‘grid-interactive’ data centers, including those operated by Microsoft, to support grid operators with the provision of critical flexibility services.

Senior Vice-President and General Manager of the Energy Transition and Digital division at Eaton, Craig McDonnell, said, “A grid-interactive UPS helps to decarbonise energy at grid level which means that its sustainability benefit extends beyond the data center. This changes the game in terms of energy management within the data center’s overall environmental impact profile.”

The Director of Data Center Research, Microsoft, Sean James,  said, “A grid-interactive data center is one where its extensive electrical system functions not only to protect customer IT data and applications but also to provide valuable electrical services back to the transmission system operator and the grid.