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Clean Energy Capital rebrands to Xela Energy

Clean Energy Capital (CEC) has rebranded as Xela Energy – marking an evolution from a start-up renewables developer to a fully-funded, institutional energy business delivering long-term infrastructure at scale. The company says its rebrand reflects its "maturity as a company," from a start-up, seed-stage renewable energy developer to an established enterprise energy business that builds, owns, and operates private wire infrastructure for global businesses, including data centres, industrial manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and blue-chip technology organisations. The company now provides its customers with access to renewable power, alongside the pre-requisite experience in building and owning renewable energy assets, including construction management, asset management, operations, H&S, regulatory and commercial compliance, contract management, billing, and customer service. Alexander Goodall, Founder & CEO at Xela Energy, comments, “Our rebrand to Xela Energy reflects the business we’ve become — and one we continue to build upon. It’s not just about a new name, it’s about delivering real infrastructure to solve our customers’ challenges proactively, not reactively. From a four-person start-up to a team of more than 25 dedicated industry experts, it’s our people who make that possible. Their belief, drive, and commitment have shaped Xela from the very start, and they continue to push us forwards every day. Xela Energy has grown from origins in development to delivering large-scale renewable energy solutions for some of the UK’s largest power users. “With capital secured and land in strategic locations, Xela Energy brings shovel-ready, strategically located projects to the table [...] and is positioned to power a more sustainable, industrial economy. As we enter this new phase, we’re creating an organisation that is forward-looking, technology-agnostic, and ready to scale. At the heart of this rebrand is a simple belief: if our energy is unsustainable, so is our existence.” The company claims that, due to a turbulent macroeconomic environment, UK commercial and industrial energy users can no longer rely on the grid to consistently deliver affordable or green energy, with Britain paying some of the highest prices of any country in the world for electricity, forcing businesses to seek off-grid solutions. Xela Energy says it responds to this demand by delivering renewable infrastructure located where power is needed, making renewable power an "undeniable part" of the answer to these industry-wide challenges. The company seeks to offer large-scale energy users access to clean, reliable, and cost-effective power, allowing them to reduce emissions, lower costs, and eliminate up-front capex. It continues by suggesting that central to this approach are Xela Energy’s Renewable Energy Service Agreements (RESAs): a private wire equivalent to a traditional power purchase agreement (PPA). RESAs, the company claims, enable Xela Energy customers to fix pricing, shielding them from future energy price spikes at scale and delivering industrial-scale green power directly to a site via private wire. These renewable energy projects are funded and built off-balance-sheet with the intention to help preserve customer capital for core growth activities directly into the customers infrastructure.

New energy agreement for nLighten’s UK data centres

nLighten, a provider of sustainable edge data centre services operating across the UK, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, has entered into a new renewable energy supply agreement with UK-based provider Conrad Energy, covering all of nLighten’s edge data centre locations across the UK. Unlike traditional supply contracts, the agreement enables nLighten to monitor its renewable energy consumption with granularity – down to the asset level and on an hourly basis. The partnership, which initially started in April 2024 with the delivery of renewable power, was enhanced in January 2025 with the introduction of detailed tracking and reporting capabilities. Previously, nLighten’s UK energy procurement was based on market-driven purchases supplemented by annual Guarantees of Origin. Conrad Energy has progressively onboarded all nLighten UK meters, consolidating what was previously a fragmented energy procurement approach. Each month, nLighten receives a breakdown of its renewable energy supply from Conrad Energy. This includes asset-level insights into the share of wind, solar, and biomass sources contributing to the energy mix. The data allows nLighten to track its renewable coverage over time and calculate avoided CO₂ emissions based on the actual generation profile. “This collaboration goes beyond what most energy suppliers currently offer in the UK,” claims Francesco Marasco, VP of Energy Operations & Sustainability at nLighten. “Not only can we align our procurement with real-time pricing, but we now also have full transparency over how – and where – our renewable energy is being generated. It’s another step towards building the most sustainable edge data centre platform in Europe.” This model builds on learnings from a similar agreement nLighten established in Spain with Shell. However, the Conrad Energy agreement takes transparency a step further by providing visibility down to individual generation assets, not just the source. “We’re proud to support nLighten’s efforts to lead the way in data centre sustainability,” says Tim Foster, Director of Energy for Business at Conrad Energy. “By combining flexible supply structures with granular data visibility, we’re helping digital infrastructure operators align more closely with today’s energy realities and decarbonisation goals.” For more from nLighten, click here.

'EU’s shift on climate targets echoes industry reality'

According to a report from Aggreko, a British multinational temporary power generation and temperature control company, the European Union’s move to consider more flexible climate targets reflects a broader shift already underway, as highlighted in earlier research showing businesses adjusting net zero plans in response to rising energy costs. According to EU diplomats, the European Commission is set to propose a new bloc-wide climate target to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% from 1990 levels, while allowing flexibility for domestic industries and use of international carbon credits. This shift mirrors recent findings from Aggreko’s surveying of CEOs across Europe, which revealed that high energy costs are prompting many businesses to reassess their decarbonisation timelines to ensure a commercially viable transition. The company’s recent report, Rebalancing the Energy Transition, based on a survey of 400 CEOs across the UK, Germany, France, and Italy, found that 95% of large businesses have already adjusted their net zero strategies in response to energy supply and pricing pressures. These findings suggest the EU’s proposed shift reflects what is already happening on the ground in energy-intensive sectors subject to rising costs and grid issues. “The EU’s shift towards more flexible climate targets recognises the need for practical pathways to net zero that we’re seeing across industry,” says Robert Wells, Aggreko’s Europe President. “Our research shows that while the intention to invest in the energy transition remains strong, companies are evolving their strategies to ensure operational resilience while also driving environmental progress.” According to Aggreko’s research, while 12% of CEOs currently rank the speed of decarbonisation as their top priority, the vast majority remain committed to climate action. Approximately 80% plan to increase investment in energy transition initiatives over the next year, demonstrating that businesses are still committed to sustainable practices, even as they navigate cost and competitiveness challenges. With this in mind, Aggreko is urging businesses to look beyond timelines and focus on practical, scalable solutions that can reduce emissions while improving energy resilience. Central to this is the role of decentralised energy systems and supply chain collaboration, which Rebalancing the Energy Transition identifies as key to reducing energy costs and accelerating progress toward net zero. “In a volatile energy market, decentralised and flexible power solutions have moved from optional to essential,” Robert adds. “By working with supply chain partners to deploy renewable technologies and alternative power agreements, businesses can reduce emissions and costs simultaneously.” Aggreko’s sustainability framework, Energising Change, aims to support this approach by helping sectors such as manufacturing, construction, data centres, utilities, and petrochemicals to implement decentralised energy solutions that are both commercially and environmentally sustainable. Robert concludes, “The EU’s evolving stance is a recognition of the complex and multifaceted priorities businesses face. Our report provides a roadmap for navigating these challenges, showing that with the right strategies, it is possible to stay competitive and committed to climate goals. I would encourage all stakeholders involved in energy equipment procurement to seek it out and read it.” For more from Aggreko, click here.

ST Telemedia achieves 78% renewable energy usage

ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC), a data centre service provider headquartered in Singapore, today published its 2024 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report. The report details STT's progress towards its ESG targets, as well as its three main ESG pillars: carbon-neutral data centre operations by 2030; a safe, secure, diverse and inclusive workplace; and ethical and responsible business. With the growing demand for digital infrastructure, sustainability has become a critical priority for organisations worldwide. Bruno Lopez, President and Group Chief Executive Officer, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, says, “As the digital economy accelerates, our responsibility as infrastructure providers extends beyond simply supporting growth—we must lead with purpose and innovation. In 2024, STT GDC made remarkable progress on our sustainability journey, from securing S$500 million in sustainability-linked financing to implementing initiatives such as AI-driven cooling optimisation and pioneering the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil in Singapore. These achievements reflect our unwavering commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 while delivering the resilient, efficient infrastructure that powers our digital world. Sustainability is not just a corporate objective for us—it is the foundation upon which we are building the future of digital infrastructure.” Some highlights of the 2024 ESG report include: • Achieved 78.5% renewable energy usage. • Achieved a 22.9% year-on-year reduction in carbon emissions across the group. • Issued S$500 million of Sustainability- Linked Perpetual (SLP) securities. • Enhanced Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework — setting further targets, including increasing the use of renewable energy to 85% by 2028 and achieving a 70% reduction in carbon intensity from a 2021 baseline by 2028. • First data centre operator in Singapore to deploy HVO for backup generators. • First data centre operator in Asia to pilot AI-based autonomous control system for optimising data centre cooling in STT GDC’s facilities in Singapore. • Achieved a 66.2% reduction in carbon intensity from the 2021 baseline. • Improved power usage effectiveness (PUE) by 11.2% from the 2020 baseline. • Realised a 34.5% improvement in water usage effectiveness (WUE) from the 2020 baseline. • Achieved zero work-related serious injuries or fatalities since 2020, with a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of 0.1 earned across more than 25 million hours worked in its construction and operations program. • Invested an average of 23.5 training hours per employee in the growth and development of its workforce. • In 2024, its team at STT GDC Indonesia partnered with a local conservation enabler to plant 1,000 mangrove trees at Dusun Tangkolak, Karawang, West Java. • 100% of employees have received anti-corruption training, with zero incidents of corruption. STT GDC's ESG Report is based on a full year’s data from 1 January to 31 December 2024, focusing primarily on STT GDC’s operating entities (data centres and offices) during the year. For more from ST Telemedia, click here.

National Grid starts work on new substation

National Grid, the UK's largest electricity distribution network, is starting work on its new Uxbridge Moor substation in Buckinghamshire which will connect over a dozen new data centres to its network. The new site forms part of National Grid’s upgrade to its transmission network to meet growing demand for electricity, ensuring it can continue to support the growth of new sectors such as data centres as well as the economic and employment benefits they can bring. The site will feature two substations – one 400kV and one 132kV – both of which will be indoor gas-insulated facilities (GIS), reducing the footprint of the development by around 70% and minimising its impact on the environment. Uxbridge Moor will be among the first GIS substations in the country to be free of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), a commonly used electrical insulator that is also a potent greenhouse gas. Using an alternative insulating gas means the project marks another key step towards National Grid’s ambition to reduce SF6 emissions from its network by 50% by 2030. Principal contractor Murphy will build the Uxbridge Moor substation, as well as delivering ancillary facilities, underground cabling, and associated work to connect the 400kV substation to the nearby overhead transmission line. National Grid is planning £35 billion of investment between 2026 to 2031 to connect both large sources of demand (such as data centres and gigafactories) and new sources of electricity generation (such as wind and solar). The requests from data centres to connect at Uxbridge Moor will require around 1.8GW of new capacity, equivalent to adding a mid-sized city to the grid on the outskirts of London. When built, it will be the largest new substation on National Grid’s network by gigawatt capacity. The new substation site borders National Grid’s existing Iver 400kV substation in Buckinghamshire, which has reached capacity and cannot be expanded to meet the demand from data centres and other customers for connections in the area. Energy Minister Michael Shanks says, “Upgrades to the electricity network like this are at the heart of building the industries of our future and support our Plan for Change to deliver economic growth and skilled jobs across the UK. “It comes as we progress our reforms to the grid connections queue that will speed up the time it takes to get high-growth firms, like data centres and AI hubs, plugged into the grid, while also fast-tracking projects that will scale up clean, homegrown power by 2030.” Laura Mulcahy, Project Director at National Grid Electricity Transmission, comments, “Our new Uxbridge Moor substation will provide vital access to power for data centres that are at the heart of Britain’s innovation and economic growth. It will enable new jobs and investment in Buckinghamshire, and will support the UK's digital future. “Alongside these significant benefits, we are working to keep the substations’ environmental impact to a minimum. By using the latest SF6-free, gas-insulated switchgear, we’re reducing the size of this crucial site by around 70% and ensuring its technology is sustainable and resilient long into the future.” Liam Corr, Managing Director of Energy at Murphy, states, “Since 1951 Murphy has been a leading provider of innovative and integrated energy solutions – today we support groundbreaking transmission and distribution projects across the four countries in which we work. “We are proud to be delivering this project in the UK’s capital and building on our strong working relationship with National Grid to help to ensure energy security for decades to come.” For more from National Grid, click here.

GBI launches 'Green Globes Data Center Campus Certification'

The Green Building Initiative (GBI), a non-profit organisation that focuses on improving the built environment and reducing climate impacts, has announced the release of the 'Green Globes Data Center Campus Certification', tailored to the unique operational and infrastructure demands of data centre campuses. The offering, developed in partnership with Compass Datacenters, aims to provide data centre owners and operators with a way to assess and certify the sustainability of multiple buildings on a site. “Digital infrastructure is the backbone of today’s society, and it’s critical that we design, construct, and operate these spaces with sustainability at the forefront,” says Vicki Worden, CEO of GBI. “The Green Globes Data Center Campus Certification empowers operators to optimise environmental performance across entire campuses while meeting evolving stakeholder expectations and regulatory requirements.” As demand for energy-intensive digital infrastructure continues to grow, the new certification intends to support mission-critical facilities working to reduce environmental impact and achieve long-term resilience. The certification recognises the interconnected nature of data centre campus operations and attempts to make it possible to evaluate redundant infrastructure and systems to improve efficiency and sustainability. “By standardising our campuses, we reduce digital, procedural, and physical waste to scale faster. GBI is wisely adopting that mindset with the campus-wide certification, making it possible to streamline documentation and certification across data halls and buildings into a single, unified process,” comments Amy Marks, SVP Innovation for Compass Datacenters. “Our co-development of this process with GBI underscores our belief that doing the right thing is good business—and it advances continuous improvement across materials, energy and water use, and community engagement.” GBI Green Globes is a nationally recognised certification that assesses energy and water efficiency, site impact, emissions reduction, material selection, and resilience at any stage of the building lifecycle. The Green Globes process includes a third-party, on-site assessment by a dedicated Green Globes Assessor (GGA) and may qualify projects for financial incentives and compliance with local sustainability mandates. Features of the certification include: • Campus Assessment: Evaluates performance across three or more buildings sharing common design and infrastructure.• Certification Process: Replication of documentation and questionnaires across buildings.• Assessment Support: Consistent assignment of a Green Globes Assessor across projects when possible.• Pricing: Discounts on registration, specification review (optional), assessment, and travel.• Recognition & Promotion: Certified campus plaques, custom GBI-issued press releases, and social media promotion.• Actionable Insights: Personalised improvement recommendations from the assigned Green Globes Assessor. Eligibility for campus certification requires GBI organisational membership at the Stewardship Level or above and completion of a 'kickoff consultation' with GBI. The program is now available for new construction campuses that include three or more new construction buildings (up to 18 months of occupancy or less than 12 months of consecutive utility data) and will soon be released for existing buildings. For more from GBI, click here.

Delta presents solutions at Computex 2025

Delta, a leader in power management and smart green solutions, today unveiled its comprehensive solutions for the AI era with a focus on sustainability under the theme “Artificial Intelligence x Greening Intelligence.” The showcase features the newly-launched AI containerised data centre solution designed for edge computing. This 20-foot container, which integrates power, cooling, and IT equipment, is on display at Delta’s booth. Delta is also announcing new certification for the in-rack CDU solution for NVIDIA GB200 NVL72. Additionally, in response to the growing power demands of AI computing, the company is introducing an 800V High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) power architecture solutions for AI data centres, along with a microgrid solution that addresses grid resilience. Ping Cheng, Delta’s Chairman and CEO, says, “With the rapid expansion of AI applications, industries worldwide are facing the dual challenge of meeting computing demands while maintaining sustainability. As a global leader in power and thermal management, Delta strives to enhance the energy efficiency of its products and optimise power architectures to reduce the stage of energy conversion and minimise total energy loss. For enterprise users looking to adopt AI, we also address the need for rapid and simplified deployment by offering a highly integrated containerised data centre solution, including for NVIDIA GB200 NVL72. Through innovative technology, Delta is helping drive the development of sustainable AI.” Benjamin Lin, President, Delta Electronics India, comments, “As India rapidly advances toward becoming a global technology and data hub, the demand for energy-efficient, AI-ready infrastructure is accelerating. Delta’s containerised data centre and HVDC solutions represent our commitment to driving digital innovation while ensuring sustainability at scale. These next-generation technologies not only empower faster deployment and lower operational costs, but also align with India’s green data centre and Digital India missions. We are proud to contribute to building a resilient digital future, where high-performance computing and clean energy solutions go hand in hand.” As part of its HVDC solution, Delta showcases its Core Shell Liquid-Cooled Busbar and HVDC Air-Cooled Busbar, supporting up to 50VDC/8000A and 800VDC/1000A power capacity with the intent of ensuring stable system operation. In advanced liquid cooling, the company's liquid-to-liquid cooling systems can provide up to 1,500 kW of cooling capacity. It also features rack-level coolant distribution units (CDUs) with cooling capacity up to 200kW, along with liquid-cooled cold plate modules designed for GPUs and CPUs. Computex 2025 will be held from 20 to 23 May at the Nangang Exhibition Center. Delta’s booth is located in Hall 1, 4F, stand No. L0617a. For more from Delta, click here.

Greykite and White Star deliver Poland's largest data centre

Greykite, an independent European real estate investment firm, its affiliates, and White Star Real Estate have announced several milestones in their Digital Ursus data centre conversion project in Warsaw, including the signing of a long-term lease with a global leader in data centre solutions. This conversion marks the next phase in the site’s transformation from a logistics asset into a data centre hub. As part of this data centre conversion project, Digital Ursus has successfully secured increased power capacity at the 20,000m² project from 18MW currently to 65MW over the next year. The tenant has committed to a long-term lease with significant investment planned to scale the existing operations on-site. Located 8km from downtown Warsaw and 6km from Chopin Airport, the site’s positioning highlights its role as a node in Europe’s rapidly growing data centre landscape. The Polish data centre market is expected to triple by 2029, driven by rising demand for digital services, cloud computing, and colocation solutions. Warsaw remains the key hub, accounting for nearly 70% of the country's commercial colocation and hosting capacity. The rapid growth in data processing is fuelling a growing need for robust digital infrastructure. Michael Abel, Founder and CEO of Greykite, comments, “We are very pleased with the fast value creation that we have been able to showcase in our Digital Ursus data centre project – having signed a long-term lease with a top data centre operator, relocated multiple existing tenants, and increased the power to 65 MW, all within a period of six months. From the outset, we envisioned the Digital Ursus data centre conversion project with White Star as a platform for long-term, strategic investment in a sector benefitting from very compelling tailwinds. The early success of converting the Ursus property into a modern data centre hub represents a validation of that vision and a clear signal of our long-term commitment to digital infrastructure in Europe.” Dan Valenzano, Senior Partner at Greykite, adds, “We are excited to be bringing this unique data centre conversion project forward with our partners at White Star, which highlights Greykite’s hands-on approach to driving value creation. The commitment of one of the key tenants from the data centre sector to the property confirms its new strategic significance for digital infrastructure development in the region.” Dariusz Domański, Managing Partner at White Star, concludes, “Digital Ursus is currently undergoing a dynamic transformation – from a traditional logistics park originally developed by White Star into an infrastructure-ready facility serving modern digital services. This success is the result of close cooperation between all parties and the project’s flexibility, allowing it to respond effectively to evolving market needs.”

Schneider Electric launches first site in Dubai

Schneider Electric, a leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today launched its first Impact Building in Dubai as part of its new Impact Buildings Program. Schneider Electric’s Impact Buildings Program aims to drive sustainability through its global commercial real estate using EcoStruxure solutions, software, and services. These include EcoStruxure Building Operation, Power Monitoring Expert, Building Data Platform, and Planon Integrated Workplace Management. The interconnectivity of these solutions intends to drive sustainability, resilience, and efficiency, as well as improving occupant experience and demonstrating how the combination of electrification and digitalisation - termed ‘Electricity 4.0’ by Schneider Electric - can transform sites into next-generation buildings. The NEST, Schneider Electric’s new office in Dubai, UAE, is over 10,000sqm, catering to more than 1,000 employees and is home to Dubai’s first Schneider Electric Global Innovation Hub, an experience area where customers can have a hands-on demonstration of EcoStruxure solutions. It will also host a dedicated Training Centre for customers and partners, and will focus on youth empowerment by developing local talent and equipping the next generation with skills to drive the region’s clear energy future. The NEST expects an energy consumption reduction of 37% compared to the previous local site and a targeted saving of 572 metric tons of CO₂ emissions, the equivalent to the annual electrical power consumed by around 77 homes. The Impact Buildings Program will roll out across additional new sites, as well as existing buildings by retrofit, over the next 18 months. Manish Kumar, Executive Vice President, Digital Energy at Schneider Electric, says, “We are walking the talk and creating the vision of what’s possible by transforming our own sites to show that buildings must evolve to meet tomorrow's business needs. Now is the time to rethink buildings. We are shaping a future where buildings don't just stand - they intelligently adapt and seamlessly connect to your business, your people, and your purpose. With EcoStruxure and Planon enterprise software, we are redefining building operations.” Commenting on the building launch in Dubai, Olivier Blum, Chief Executive Officer, Schneider Electric, adds, “The NEST is more than a building. It is a statement of intent. We are honoured to have inaugurated this landmark project in the UAE, which demonstrates how digitalisation and electrification can accelerate national net zero goals while creating world-class environments for people to collaborate, innovate, and grow. This new Dubai hub is the first of Schneider Electric’s Global Impact Buildings program and showcases how smart, connected technologies can revolutionise the built environment, setting new standards for innovative and sustainable commercial spaces while prioritising occupant well-being.” For more from Schneider Electric, click here.

Colt DCS breaks ground on new Paris data centre

Colt Data Centre Services (Colt DCS), a global provider of hyperscale and large enterprise data centre solutions, has broken ground on its second data centre in France with Colt Paris 2. This facility is the first of three planned data centres (Colt Paris 2, 3 and 4) to be built on a new 12.5-acre site in Villebon-sur-Yvette, located to the southwest of Paris. Two additional data centres (Colt Paris 5 and 6) are also scheduled for construction on a second new site in Les Ulis, which spans 5.3 acres and is situated in proximity to Colt DCS’ existing operational facility in the French commune. This marks the beginning of a €2.3 billion investment in the country’s digital economy, with five data centres planned to be completed by 2031. Combined, this will bring Colt DCS’ total capacity to 170MW in France by the end of that year. Each new facility has been designed following Colt DCS’ Global Reference Design (GRD) and will use several low embodied carbon principles in the construction process to showcase the operator’s commitment to sustainability. The five data centres will meet the performance requirements of large enterprise, traditional cloud, and AI platforms. With power contracts confirmed at both sites, these facilities will be purpose-built to support the rapid growth of digital services across France and Europe. Colt Paris 2 has been designed to meet the cooling demands of high-density AI workloads through a hybrid approach that combines traditional air cooling with liquid-to-chip technology. During the cooling process, there is zero water waste. The facility has also been designed to recover waste heat for use by the local community. Having secured 100% renewable power, once fully operational, this AI-ready data centre will deliver 40MW with the ability to accommodate over 100kW of IT power per single cabinet. Niclas Sanfridsson, CEO of Colt DCS, says, “Breaking ground at Colt Paris 2 is the exciting next step in our long-term commitment to France and its thriving digital economy. This project not only implements our innovative new design, but it also demonstrates our dedication to sustainable growth and innovation. By investing in renewable energy contracts and supporting the local community through waste heat reuse, we are helping to fulfil the growing demand for cloud and AI services while setting new standards for environmental responsibility.” Furthermore, Colt Paris 2 will be constructed by sourcing building equipment and materials from within Europe, with the development estimated to employ 300 people during construction and create over 100 new jobs within the local economy once operational. The project underscores Colt DCS’ role as a trusted data centre partner, enabling its customers to efficiently deliver AI solutions in a secure and sustainable environment. For more from Colt DCS, click here.