Energy Use: Hitachi Vantara's Data Centre Sustainability
Hitachi Vantara's FY2024 Sustainability Report shows the company's progress in reducing energy usage, managing carbon emissions and developing sustainable products.
This is amid the increasing energy consumption demands of data centres.
According to the US Department of Energy, data centres consumed 4% of US electricity in 2024.
This figure is expected to rise to 12% by 2028, driven by the increased adoption of AI and data-intensive workloads.
As a subsidiary of Hitachi, the entity is positioning itself as a leader in providing sustainable infrastructure solutions within the realms of data storage, infrastructure and hybrid cloud management.
ENERGY STAR certifications
A highlight in the report is the acquisition of the ENERGY STAR certification for several Hitachi Vantara storage solutions.
Notably, the Virtual Storage Platform One Block (VSP One Block) achieved the highest ranking for energy efficiency in the ENERGY STAR NVSS Disk Online 4 category.
The company has also improved its manufacturing processes, with 40% by weight of materials used in bezels for VSP One Block and File storage models being sourced from post-consumer recycled plastics.
Hitachi Vantara plans to increase this to 50% by FY2030 by expanding the use of recycled materials in drive canisters and biomass-based parts.
“We're proud of the progress we’ve made since our inaugural Sustainability Report, but we know the journey doesn't end there,” says Sheila Rohra, CEO of Hitachi Vantara.
“Our focus remains on highlighting how sustainability, particularly in the data centre, can be both a key driver of innovation and a business differentiator – from reducing carbon emissions to helping businesses achieve energy savings, enhance operational efficiency and meet their broader sustainability goals.”
Renewable energy
The report details operations at Hitachi Vantara's distribution centre in the Netherlands, which generates around 30% of its electricity consumption from on-site solar production.
The remainder of its electricity needs are covered by verified Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs), allowing the centre to operate entirely on renewable energy.
- Data centres consumed 4% of US electricity last year, potentially reaching 12% by 2028
- Hitachi Vantara's Netherlands distribution centre generates 30% of electricity from on-site solar
- A Denver facility data centre refresh reduced energy consumption by 50% and improved PUE from 1.6 to 1.3
During FY2024, Hitachi Vantara consumed 78,211 MWh of energy, with 90% sourced from grid electricity and 35% from renewable sources like solar and wind.
Energy consumption at its Denver facility was halved through a data centre refresh, improving power usage effectiveness (PUE) from 1.6 to 1.3.
The company has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by FY2030, with a long-term vision of carbon neutrality throughout its value chain by FY2050.
Supporting sustainability across sectors
The report includes case studies showing how Hitachi Vantara's technology aids customers in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.
For instance, Italian pasta manufacturer La Molisana implemented VSP One Block, achieving a 30% reduction in energy consumption and a 2.5x improvement in response times.
“Sustainability was an important factor in our selection of VSP One Block,” says Maurizio Maio, CIO of La Molisana.
“Although the energy consumption of our data centre is relatively low compared to our manufacturing operations, we are keen to implement eco-friendly IT solutions.
"The energy-efficient VSP One Block aligns perfectly with our vision.”
In India, media company Malayala Manorama deployed Hitachi Vantara infrastructure that reduced rack space by 66% and cut power and cooling costs by 70%.
Meanwhile, Estonian telecommunications provider Elisa Eesti modernised its data infrastructure, tripling energy efficiency and reducing its carbon footprint with Hitachi Vantara’s Virtual Storage Platform.
Hitachi Vantara has introduced a Sustainability Guarantee as part of its storage platform offering for FY2025.
This initiative allows businesses to track and optimise energy consumption, ensuring a maximum power consumption target.
“We’re proud of the progress we've made since our inaugural Sustainability Report, but we know the journey doesn't end there,” says Sheila.
“Our focus remains on highlighting how sustainability, particularly in the data centre, can be both a key driver of innovation and a business differentiator – from reducing carbon emissions to helping businesses achieve energy savings, enhance operational efficiency and meet their broader sustainability goals.”
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