Microsoft’s Melissa Lott appointed to the Board of the Net Zero Innovation Hub
The Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers is pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa Lott (Partner, Microsoft) as a new member of its Board of Directors.
Dr. Melissa Lott brings a powerful combination of engineering rigor, policy insight and global experience across the energy transition space.
As the head of energy technology innovation at Microsoft, Melissa leads efforts to accelerate low-carbon energy technology solutions. In this work, she brings more than two decades of experience in low-carbon electricity systems, aligning corporate procurement with deep decarbonization, and designing systems that ensure reliability and affordability.
Melissa’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the Hub and for a data center industry looking for new models of innovation that can deliver growth and sustainability at scale.
“Joining the Hub’s Board is an opportunity to help accelerate technology solutions that deliver reliable, affordable and sustainable energy for the next generation of digital infrastructure. The challenges ahead require coordination across technology, policy and markets, and I look forward to working with this group to move from promising ideas to scalable impact,” said Dr. Melissa Lott.
“New approaches that combine low-cost renewables and net-zero power sources, short- and long-duration energy storage, clean onsite power generation, and grid-connection flexibility can provide fast connections and affordable, resilient 24/7 time-matched clean energy for data centers,” said Alberto Ravagni, CEO of the Hub. “Conversations between data centers, grid operators, and the European Commission are underway to define such collaborative spaces. The Hub is positioned as the collaborative space to de-risk, scale, and deploy innovative solutions at gigawatt scale.”
“We are delighted to welcome Melissa to the Board,” said Dietmar Baro, Chair of the Hub. “Her vision aligns with our mission: to drive step-change innovation that enables data centers to grow while advancing the energy transition. Her voice will help shape the collaboration between hyperscalers, colocation companies, solutions providers, innovators, and the investment ecosystem so we can move from kilowatt-scale pilots to gigawatt-scale impact.”
At the same time, the Board expresses its deep gratitude to Todd Noe of Microsoft, who has served as a Board member since the Hub’s inception. Todd’s strategic input and industry leadership have been instrumental in establishing the Hub’s foundations, direction, and partnerships. We wish him every success in his next venture.
About the Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers
The Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers is a collaboration between Danfoss, Data4, Google, Microsoft, Schneider Electric, and Vertiv, established to select, test, and accelerate the deployment of advanced net-zero solutions for the data center industry in the AI era.
The Hub brings together hyperscalers, colocation companies, solution providers, technology innovators, power providers, and policymakers to de-risk innovative solutions and accelerate their adoption across the industry. Through concrete projects - such as clean backup power, heat-reuse integration, and the development of affordable, reliable, and clean energy systems - the Hub applies a unique innovation methodology to address key challenges and scale proven solutions. The aim is to enable sustainable data center growth without compromise and with positive impact, supporting the transition toward a net-zero future.
For further information, please contact:
Christine Kjær Jacobsen
Head of Communication
+45 2975 2932
