Accenture, Microsoft Develop Cloud and IoT Applications for Energy Companies

Global IT consulting firm Accenture, working closely with Microsoft, has developed a cloud-based application for energy companies that are seeking to manage methane gas emissions.

Methane (CH₄) is the second most abundant anthropogenic greenhouse gas after CO₂, generating roughly 20% of global emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Accenture Cloud Application for Energy Companies

In response, Accenture developed a Methane Emissions Monitoring Platform (MEMP) that "enables energy companies to both measure baseline methane emissions in near real-time and detect leaks using satellites, fixed wing aircraft, and ground level sensing technologies," the global IT consulting firm said.

The MEMP application, which can leverage IoT (Internet of Things) sensors, runs on Microsoft Azure, according to a detailed blog from multiple Microsoft executives and two Accenture team members -- Associate Director Dan Russ and Managing Director Sacha Abinader.

Accenture is perhaps best known for traditional IT and cloud consulting. But the company also has a growing focus on sustainability, renewable energy and green IT services. Key moves include:

• M&A: Acquiring sustainability consultancy Green Domus of Brazil.
• Partnership: Working with climate risk software provider Cervest.
• M&A: Acquiring industrial artificial intelligence consultancy Flutura.
• Partnership: Working with satellite data specialist Planet Labs.

The overall Accenture business has 732,000 employees across 120 countries.

Microsoft Sustainability Strategy, Cloud Applications

Meanwhile, Microsoft's sustainability strategy blankets internal operations, and extends to partners and customers.

Among the key product developments: Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability platform is designed to assist ESG initiatives across all vertical markets. Also, Azure Data Manager for Energy is a fully managed, OSDU Data Platform for the energy industry. Azure Data Manager for Energy allows customers to ingest, aggregate, store, search and retrieve data.

Among the energy companies taking notice of the Accenture and Microsoft Work: Duke Energy, which has been working with the two technology companies since 2021 on a platform that measures actual baseline methane emissions from natural gas distribution systems.