Renewables and Energy: Infrastructure Builds Driving Sustainable Power

Nxtra signs partnership with AMPIN

Indian data centre operator Nxtra (by Airtel) has signed a new agreement with AMPIN Energy Transition for an additional 125.65 MW of solar-wind hybrid energy via Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) connected projects. This brings the total renewable energy capacity supplied to Nxtra by AMPIN to more than 200 MW. The added capacity will be delivered in two phases, through captive projects located in Rajasthan and Karnataka. These will complement AMPIN’s existing supply of solar energy to Nxtra through intra-state, open access arrangements in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha. Under the new agreement, AMPIN will expand its service to 11 additional states and introduce new technologies, including large-scale ISTS-based renewable energy and consolidated supply from a single Independent Power Producer (IPP). Ashish Arora, CEO of Nxtra, says, “Sustainability is not just a commitment, it is our responsibility and our opportunity to lead. "By powering our digital infrastructure with over 200 MW of renewable energy through our partnership with AMPIN, we are setting new standards for the industry. "This achievement highlights our leadership in using ISTS-backed clean energy to power our facilities sustainably, boosting reliability, and ensuring tangible climate impact. "At Nxtra, we are determined to drive innovation and inspire action, ensuring that our operations not only support India’s digital growth but also protect its environment for generations to come.” Pinaki Bhattacharyya, founder, Managing Director, and CEO of AMPIN, adds, “With this partnership, we demonstrate that through a seamless blend of inter-state and intra-state renewable energy solutions backed by a pan-India presence, we can take any customer through a nearly 100% energy transition. "Nxtra by Airtel, a leader in the data and fast-growing data centre space, shares our vision for sustainability and we are proud to make data centres green by this association.” AMPIN’s approach aims to establish long-term relationships with customers by offering energy supply across various technologies and regions. It says the collaboration with Nxtra highlights the role of large-scale renewable energy agreements in increasing operational efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Nxtra, likewise, says it has committed to reaching net zero emissions and is aligning its efforts with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) guidance. As part of this effort, the company is implementing a range of measures to reduce its direct (scope 1) and indirect (scope 2) greenhouse gas emissions. In June 2024, Nxtra joined the global RE100 initiative, pledging to source 100% of its electricity from renewable sources. It became the first data centre operator in India, and the 14th Indian company overall, to join the programme. For more from Nxtra, click here.

Xela Energy gains approval for Hursley solar project

Xela Energy (formerly Clean Energy Capital), a UK-based provider of private-wire renewable energy systems for data centres and industrial-scale power consumers, has received full planning permission for a 5MW solar farm that will supply renewable electricity directly to IBM’s Hursley campus near Winchester, England. The project is the first in the UK to connect a data centre to a dedicated solar installation via a private-wire arrangement. The solar farm will be built on agricultural land located close to the Hursley site and will provide traceable renewable energy directly to the IBM campus. By operating independently of the UK’s main electricity grid and without reliance on government subsidies, the project is intended to contribute to national decarbonisation targets, while also helping to reduce strain on grid infrastructure and improve overall energy security. Once operational, the facility is expected to generate nearly 5 million kWh of energy per year. Over its lifetime, this is estimated to reduce CO₂ emissions by 46,000 tonnes - equivalent to planting around 60,000 trees. In addition to powering IBM’s 27,000ft² data centre, which opened in 1977, the project includes landscaping features and dedicated areas to support Biodiversity Net Gain. Xela Energy, which has a growing pipeline of private-wire schemes, describes its approach as land-led rather than consultancy-led - focusing on securing sites near large energy consumers to provide fully funded, dedicated clean energy solutions. The company develops, builds, owns, and operates each installation directly, delivering "low-cost, traceable electricity" to its clients. “This project represents a major milestone in how large power users can decarbonise with certainty, speed, and integrity,” claims Alexander Goodall, founder and CEO of Xela Energy. “It’s a blueprint for how the UK can decarbonise its most energy-intensive industries at scale. If our energy is unsustainable, so is our existence. "That’s why Xela Energy exists: to make clean, cost-effective power available directly at the point of use without waiting for policy, grid reform, or subsidies. Projects like this show we don’t have to choose between economic growth and environmental responsibility, it’s possible to have both.” The Hursley installation is set to begin construction in the coming months. It comes at a time when data centre energy demand is increasing, driven by generative AI and other high-performance computing workloads.

Allegro argues case for sustainable energy storage

As data centre expansion accelerates to meet the demands of AI, cryptocurrencies, and cloud services, Australia-based developer Allegro Energy is arguing for the relevance and applicability of its long-duration energy storage (LDES) technology in "enabling scalable, sustainable energy solutions tailored to the unique needs of modern data centres." With data centres operating on consistent, high-load profiles, they are uniquely positioned to benefit from a clean power strategy that combines renewable generation with long-duration energy storage. Allegro Energy’s modular, scalable, and environmentally-friendly battery systems, according to the company, "present a solution that overcomes the prohibitive cost, scalability, and sustainability challenges associated with traditional lithium-ion or vanadium-based systems." • Modularity & scalability — Allegro’s LDES systems are designed to grow in parallel with a data centre’s needs, allowing incremental investment and deployment. • Renewable compatibility — The system pairs with solar and wind energy, aiming to help data centres navigate grid volatility and peak pricing while advancing towards net zero carbon targets. • Climate-friendly storage chemistry — The water-based electrolyte technology is not resource-constrained, hoping to offer a low-impact alternative that can be deployed at scale. “The exponential growth of generative AI, cloud computing, and digital services has made energy a critical chokepoint in data infrastructure,” says Thomas Nann, CEO of Allegro Energy. “We believe the future of high-performance computing does not need to come at the cost of the planet. With our technology, data centres can be powered entirely by renewables, supported by reliable, cost-effective long-duration storage.” Allegro Energy’s proprietary, locally manufactured micro-emulsion electrolyte technology eliminates the need for scarce or rare metals, reducing fire risk and allowing for extended storage durations at a lower cost.

Digital Realty adopts PPC’s energy matching programme

Digital Realty, a provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data centre, colocation, and interconnection systems, today announced that it has adopted PPC’s 24/7 hourly renewable energy matching programme to power its three highly-connected data centres in Athens, Greece, with clear, real-time matched clean electricity. The initiative builds on the company’s existing 24/7 energy matching programmes in France and Sweden and supports improved transparency and reporting of renewable energy use. The programme, provided by PPC, Southeast Europe’s largest electric utility group, has been designed to help large corporate customers accurately trace and report their clean energy usage. Leveraging PPC’s renewable energy assets and digital tracking tools, the programme seeks to enable businesses to verify both the source and the time of clean electricity consumption on an hourly basis. The service includes the full management of Guarantees of Origin (GOs) and uses software from Granular Energy to enable real-time tracking of renewable energy generation and associated carbon emissions. It aims to "empower customers to credibly report Scope 2 emissions and progress towards net zero targets." Digital Realty’s participation represents a sizeable deployment of hourly energy matching in the region, helping to support the development of a more resilient and decarbonised power grid. By matching renewable energy generation and consumption in real time, the programme aims to create clearer signals for investment in clean energy technologies and infrastructure. “This programme with PPC strengthens our commitment to transparent and data-driven energy sourcing,” comments Alexandros Bechrakis, Managing Director, Digital Realty in Greece. “It helps us support our customers’ renewable energy goals with credible, hourly-matched clean electricity – delivering greater visibility into how and when clean energy is being used across their digital infrastructure.” “At PPC, we are shaping the future of energy by enabling our clients to lead with credibility in a carbon-free economy,” claims Angelos Spanos, Chief Marketing & Products Officer at PPC. “Through 24/7 carbon-free energy hourly matching, we provide our corporate customers with verified, real-time insights into their renewable energy consumption. "This collaboration with Digital Realty demonstrates how forward-looking energy solutions can accelerate the clean energy transition for entire industries.” The programme, according to Digital Realty, supports the company’s science-based targets for carbon emissions reduction and aligns with its broader sustainability strategy, which includes a commitment to carbon neutrality across its data centre operations and value chain. As part of this strategy, Digital Realty already matches 100% of the electricity used across its entire European portfolio with renewable energy. For more from Digital Realty, click here.

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.

'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.

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.

2025 ESG Report: Data centre environmental impact

Structure Research has released its latest 2025 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report, providing an in-depth look at the environmental footprint of data centre providers and hyperscale platforms. The report captures sustainability metrics from 26 data centre operators and nine hyperscale cloud platforms, offering a unique snapshot into carbon emissions, energy consumption and water usage across the global infrastructure ecosystem. The 2025 ESG Report finds that while data centre energy usage continues to rise - now accounting for more than 1.1% of global energy consumption - average carbon emissions per unit of energy consumed are trending downwards, driven by the growing adoption of renewable and carbon-free energy sources. Total energy usage increased from 178.5TWh in 2019 to 310.6TWh in 2024, while emissions intensity fell from 366.9mtCO2e/GWh to 312.7mtCO2e/GWh over the same period. “Data centres are foundational to the modern digital economy, and that means they carry a growing environmental responsibility,” says Philbert Shih, Managing Director of Structure Research. “What this report shows is that while energy consumption continues to climb, providers are making meaningful progress in efficiency and renewable adoption. The industry is clearly moving in the right direction - but transparency and accountability will be critical as sustainability expectations evolve.” Key findings from the report Sustainability progress amid rising demand · Energy usage by ESG Leaders grew 17.9% over the last five years, while renewable energy consumption increased by 27.9%. · Hyperscalers now use renewable sources for approximately 91% of their total energy needs; data centre providers reached 62%. · Carbon-free energy, including nuclear, is emerging as a key part of the data centre energy mix as power constraints grow in Tier 1 markets. PUE and water efficiency improvements · Average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) for data centre providers declined from 1.44 in 2019 to 1.38 in 2024, while hyperscale PUEs remained at an industry-leading 1.22. · Data centre water consumption increased by 9.6% over five years, driven by demand for liquid cooling to support AI workloads and higher rack densities. The report introduces the Structure Research Sustainability Quadrant (SRSQ), a benchmark framework ranking providers based on transparency, operational efficiency and renewable energy usage. The SRSQ aims to encourage better reporting standards and highlight leaders in environmental performance. Structure Research’s analysis found that ESG reporting across the sector is becoming more common, though significant variation remains in the scope and depth of disclosures. The report emphasises the importance of transparency in environmental reporting and urges providers to include more granular, region-specific data in future disclosures. The 2025 ESG Report is a tool for hyperscalers, colocation providers, enterprises and policymakers seeking to understand the environmental implications of data centre growth and how industry leaders are responding.