Caterpillar Collaborates with Microsoft to Provide Standby Power to its Swedish Data Centers

Caterpillar to support Microsoft’s carbon-negative goals with standby power running on renewable liquid fuel

For Worldwide Release: June 1, 2021 
Release Number:  EEPR0921

DEERFIELD, IL – Caterpillar Inc. today announced that Microsoft will use Cat® C175-20 and C18 generator sets to provide complete standby power solutions in the first phase of data centers under construction in Sweden. All the generator sets can be powered by Preem Evolution Diesel Plus, a renewable liquid fuel. The facilities will be among Microsoft’s most advanced and sustainable data centers, featuring energy-saving designs, power from 100% renewable energy sources, and ambitions for zero-waste operations.

Installed and commissioned by the local Cat dealer, the Cat generator sets will align with Microsoft’s sustainability goals by enabling operation on a co-processed synthetic diesel fuel that contains more than 50% renewable raw materials. Manufactured at the Preem refinery in Gothenburg, Sweden, it is the first eco-labelled liquid fuel in the world. Cat engines have allowed the use of various hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel products for more than a decade. Preem’s Evolution Diesel Plus was evaluated and tested by Caterpillar and Microsoft at a data center in Dublin, Ireland.

“Microsoft is a valued Caterpillar customer, and we are delighted to collaborate with them and support their goals for carbon reduction.” said Bart Myers, general manager, Caterpillar Large Electric Power. “This project has presented us with an ideal opportunity to demonstrate the flexibility and versatility of the products in our electric power portfolio and our expertise in sustainable power generation.”

Caterpillar supports sustainability with a broad portfolio of advanced power offerings:

  • Caterpillar’s hybrid energy solutions technology suite includes photovoltaic (PV) solar modules, bi-directional power (BDP) inverters, energy storage system (ESS) modules, advanced microgrid controllers and full digital monitoring.
  • Cat cogeneration combined heat and power (CHP) systems simultaneously provide power for electrical loads as well as high-efficiency heating and cooling.
  • Cat generator sets can be configured to operate on numerous biogas fuels, including coal mine methane, landfill gas and wastewater biogas.

Myers added, “More and more of our customers seek to lessen their impacts on the environment while pursuing economic goals. Caterpillar has supported the use of hybrid and renewable fuels in our power solutions for many years as part of our own strategic investment in sustainability.”

The standby power solution at each of the data centers at Gävle, Sandviken and Staffanstorp consists of multiple Cat C175-20 generator sets for critical operations and Cat C18 generator sets that support administrative functions. Additionally, all the generator sets will be equipped with sound-attenuating enclosures that deliver optimal performance in ambient temperatures that can range from minus 30 degrees to more than 40 degrees Celsius (minus 22 to more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit). Packaged at Caterpillar’s manufacturing facility at Larne, Northern Ireland, the installations provide complete, vertically integrated solutions backed by a full Caterpillar warranty.

“We have worked extensively to ensure that our new data centers in Sweden will be among our most sustainably designed and operated in the world,” said Noelle Walsh, corporate vice president, Cloud Operations and Innovation at Microsoft. “Caterpillar and the Cat dealer network have developed innovative power solutions that support Microsoft and our unwavering commitment to carbon reductions. Cat generator sets at Microsoft data centers help us keep availability promises to our customers even when grid power fails, providing continuous energy and uninterrupted cloud services.”

Cat power solutions help data centers meet uptime commitments at thousands of facilities around the world. Caterpillar offers efficient diesel and gas generator sets with high power densities integrated with automatic transfer switches (ATS) and switchgear specifically customized for continuous, standby, and temporary power applications at data centers. The company offers worldwide product support, with parts and service available globally through the Cat authorized service and dealer network.

For more information, visit www.cat.com/powergeneration or e-mail Electric_Power@cat.com.

Product and Services News

See the latest product and engine announcements from Caterpillar.

See the Latest News

 

###

About Caterpillar

Since 1925, Caterpillar Inc. has been helping our customers build a better world – making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. With 2020 sales and revenues of $41.7 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. Services offered throughout the product life cycle, cutting-edge technology and decades of product expertise set Caterpillar apart, providing exceptional value to help our customers succeed. The company principally operates through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries, and Energy & Transportation – and provides financing and related services through its Financial Products segment. For more information, visit caterpillar.com. To connect on social media, visit caterpillar.com/social-media.

© 2021 Caterpillar. All Rights Reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, LET’S DO THE WORK, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Corporate Yellow,” the “Power Edge” and Cat “Modern Hex” trade dress, as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.

Press Inquiries

Bob Chase
Gelia
Tel: +1 716-629-3230
bchase@gelia.com

Anne O’Boyle
Caterpillar Inc.
Tel: +028 9049 5269
OBoyle_Anne@cat.com

 

Reader Requests

Caterpillar Inc.
Electric Power Division
P.O. Box 0610
Mossville, IL 61552-0610