Four Tech Companies Join Nonprofit to Test Climate Technologies at Data Centers

Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Meta are partnering with Elemental Impact to test new climate technologies inside data centers. The companies will pay annual membership fees and helped fund the launch but have not committed direct investment dollars.

Impact plans to invest between $500,000 and $5 million in up to ten startups through 2027. Technologies under review include advanced cooling systems, energy storage, green cement and steel, and alternatives to copper wiring. Dawn Lippert, CEO and founder of Elemental Impact, said the effort aims to give entrepreneurs access to data center operators as customers.

She added that the initiative also seeks to address community concerns about energy and water use.

Philanthropic organizations including Breakthrough Energy and Builders Vision Philanthropy are providing multi-year grants to Elemental Impact. A request for proposals from startups begins with Wednesday's announcement. Melanie Nakagawa, chief sustainability officer at Microsoft, said the program is intended to move promising technologies from pilot stage to larger deployment.

Chris Graves, CEO of energy startup Noon Energy, said faster connections to data center operators can shorten development time. Ryan Panchadsaram, an adviser at Kleiner Perkins, noted that the focus on community engagement aligns with local priorities around energy and water efficiency.

Elemental Impact may expand the program after 2027 if initial results are positive.