Digital Realty Trust: Digital Realty makes a series of renewable energy announcements

Digital Realty has announced that it has signed a number of renewable energy deals in line with its net zero and sustainability goals. In Australia the company has signed a renewable electricity supply contract with Origin Energy. The colocation company will procure energy from the Origin Stockyard Hill wind farm, near Melbourne, Victoria, through which it will match its Australian portfolio energy demand with renewables from next year. Its Sydney data centers, for example, will be matched with 100% renewable energy in January 2024, while its Melbourne data center will be matched with 60% renewable energy in the same year, increasing to 100% by 2026. 

The company has outlined that this will assist the company in reducing greenhouse emissions by up to 70,000 tonnes annually. 

Speaking about this, James Magill, head of Origin Zero, said: "Digital Realty approached us seeking a renewable energy solution for their data centers in Australia and we were able to offer them a cost-effective option that matches their usage with wind power sourced from Stockyard Hill Wind Farm. We're pleased to help the company with its emission reduction ambitions."

Elsewhere, in Japan, Digital Realty's JV with Mitsubishi Corporation, MC Digital Realty, will match the electricity used at its NRT10 and KIX11 data centers with 100% carbon-free and renewable energy via FIT non-fossil certificates from MC Retail Energy. Further, in Singapore, Digital Reality has completed the installation of solar panels at its SIN11 data center, avoiding over 200 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) being released into the environment annually. Its SIN12 data center is the recipient of a similar solar project, pegged to be completed by summer 2023.

"As the leading data center provider, we are in a privileged position to lead the global data center industry in sustainable environmental performance," said Jon Curry, Vice President Operations, Asia Pacific, Digital Realty. Curry outlined that the projects are "important milestones" in the company's global transition to renewable energy and the drive towards achieving its carbon reduction goals," Adding: "Digital Realty is committed to minimizing the impact of our data center operations on the environment. We seek to continually improve the way we power and operate our data centers to support the evolving needs of our global customers to help them grow in a responsible and sustainable way."