Digital Realty: How Data Centres Harness Renewable Energy
Digital Realty, the world's foremost provider of cloud and carrier-neutral data centre colocation and interconnection solutions, has achieved a critical milestone in its sustainability strategy by aligning 185 facilities with 100% renewable energy.
This initiative is part of its broader effort to enhance sustainability metrics across various operational domains.
The 2024 Impact Report from Digital Realty highlights its industry-leading sustainability execution, outlining significant efforts in renewable energy commitment, resource conservation and sustainable business practices.
- Reaching 1.5GW of renewable energy capacity under contract
- Matching 185 data centres to 100% renewable energy
- Achieving 75% renewable electricity globally, up 9% from last year
- Rolling out hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO 100) renewable diesel across 30 sites
- Earning ENERGY STAR certifications for 69% of its US portfolio, more than any other provider
- Securing an industry-first Gold+ energy efficiency rating in Zurich
“Digital Realty continued to make strong progress towards its sustainability goals in 2024, reaching 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity under contract and matching 185 data centres with 100% renewable energy,” says Andrew Power, President and CEO at Digital Realty.
“This reflects our commitment to build, power and operate sustainable data centres, which is trusted and relied upon by more than 5,000 customers.”
Expanding Renewable Energy Procurement Globally
Digital Realty has employed a proactive renewable energy procurement programme, resulting in the contracting of 1.5GW of new solar and wind projects, complemented by 8.8 megawatts (MW) of onsite solar installations. The company has realised complete renewable energy procurement for facilities across Europe, Sydney, Singapore, Texas and New Jersey as well as all locations within its North American colocation portfolio.
In pursuing energy efficiency, Digital Realty's initiatives in 2024 are set to conserve 42,400 megawatt hours (MWh) annually and reduce carbon emissions by 28,500 metric tons. Consequently, the company achieved US EPA ENERGY STAR certification for 69% of its US-managed portfolio by IT capacity, securing the highest number of ENERGY STAR certifications of any data centre operator globally.
- 1.5GW of new solar and wind projects under contract
- 8.8 megawatt (MW) of onsite solar installations
- 100% renewable energy for its portfolios in Europe, Sydney, Singapore, Texas and New Jersey and all facilities in its North American colocation portfolio
- 185 data centres matched with 100% renewable energy
Moreover, the Zürich portfolio was fully certified under the Swiss Datacenter Efficiency Association rating, which included achieving an industry-first Gold+ certification. Expanding these efforts, the company deployed hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO 100) renewable diesel across 30 facilities, representing 17% of its global operational portfolio as part of its sustainable strategy extension.
Strengthening Water Conservation in the Context of AI
Digital Realty's water management strategy has seen 42% of its irrigation and cooling needs fulfilled using non-potable water. The collaboration with Ecolab has been instrumental in deploying an AI-powered water management system that identifies water reduction opportunities, addressing the high demands of AI data centres regarding energy and water usage.
Continuing its conservation efforts, the company's North American colocation portfolio experienced a 14% year-over-year decrease in water usage intensity through advanced water-free cooling systems. Digital Realty also certified eight international data centres, encompassing a total of 1.9 million square feet, adhering to sustainable building standards like LEED and BREEAM certifications throughout 2024.
Currently, the company manages over 15 million square feet under green building certifications, and persists in aligning with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Recommendations. It also conducts ongoing risk assessments including physical and cyber-security measures, ensuring reliability and resilience against operational, security, weather, and climate-related challenges.
“The progress highlighted in our 2024 Impact Report was built on years of continued commitment to transitioning towards more sustainable operations,” says Aaron Binkley, Vice President of Sustainability at Digital Realty.
“As we look to 2025 and beyond, advancing sustainable data centre practices will require deeper innovation, stronger partnerships and continued investment in next-generation solutions, from renewable energy integration and water conservation to low-carbon fuels and green data centre design.
“At Digital Realty, we’re committed to leading this evolution, ensuring that the infrastructure powering the digital economy is resilient and responsible.”
