Renewables and Energy: Infrastructure Builds Driving Sustainable Power

NTT, ENGIE sign multi-market renewable energy deal

NTT DATA, a Japanese IT services and consulting group, and ENGIE, a French multinational energy company, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at supporting the long-term energy needs of NTT DATA's global data centre portfolio and expanding AI infrastructure using renewable energy. The agreement focuses on renewable energy procurement, power supply, and integrated energy services to support the continued growth of the company's data centres while contributing to its net zero objectives. Working agreements have already been signed in the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany as part of the multinational partnership. In the UK, NTT DATA has entered into a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) with ENGIE for renewable electricity supplied from a 24MW wind farm in South Wales. The agreement will provide power to NTT DATA's UK data centres until September 2030. Partnership supports AI infrastructure growth The companies say the partnership is intended to address increasing demand for reliable, long-term energy supplies as AI and cloud infrastructure continue to expand. David Costa, Chief Sustainability Officer at NTT DATA, comments, "AI is transforming every industry, and long-term success depends on ensuring that AI is sustainable. Sustainability is both a competitive differentiator and a value creator. "This partnership with ENGIE reflects our belief that energy transition and AI transformation must advance together, enabling us to innovate and scale responsibly while delivering long-term value for our clients and society." Doug Adams, CEO of NTT Global Data Centers, adds, "This partnership gives us the energy foundation we need to keep pace with accelerating AI demand without compromising on our sustainability commitments. "Securing long-term access to renewable power at scale is one of the defining challenges for our industry right now, and working with a partner like ENGIE lets us continue our growth with confidence - for our clients, for our company, and for the environment." Nicolas Lefèvre-Marton, Group Vice President Data Center Acceleration & Strategy Partnerships at ENGIE, notes, "Our partnership with NTT DATA is an exciting synergy between our industries, with both parties working to address the energy requirements of the data and AI revolution with renewable and sustainable solutions." Miya Paolucci, CEO of ENGIE UK, concludes, "This CPPA is the result of a deep understanding of NTT DATA's needs, demonstrating how a collaborative approach can deliver innovative solutions and sustainable infrastructure to support long-term growth and decarbonisation ambitions." For more from NTT DATA, click here.

Data centre batteries could cut peak grid demand by 15%

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is increasing electricity demand from data centres and could encourage greater investment in energy storage and clean energy technologies, according to researchers from WU Vienna University of Economics and Business. The researchers argue that, with appropriate policy and market reforms, data centre operators could play a larger role in supporting electricity networks by investing in on-site energy infrastructure alongside new computing capacity. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global electricity demand from new data centres is expected to double by 2030. In the US, data centres could account for up to 17% of electricity consumption by the end of the decade. To assess the potential impact of on-site energy storage, the researchers analysed electricity consumption across 96 UK data centres using data from UK Power Networks. Their findings suggest that using on-site batteries to meet peak demand could reduce peak electricity imports from the grid by 10–15%. Research highlights role of batteries and grid flexibility The paper also proposes a series of policy reforms, including changes to grid connection rules, greater support for on-site battery storage and clean energy generation, incentives for flexible computing loads during periods of grid stress, and measures to encourage investment in next-generation energy storage technologies. The researchers argue that future data centre developments should be assessed not only by their electricity demand, but also by the flexibility, energy storage, and clean energy capacity they contribute to the wider electricity system. Lead author Behnam Zakeri, Assistant Professor and Deputy Head of the Institute for Data, Energy and Sustainability (IDEaS) at WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, says, "AI is creating an unprecedented race for electricity. The question is not just where to find clean power, but how quickly it can be delivered to meet AI’s growing compute demand. "Big tech companies are increasingly investing in energy storage as a solution to several of their power problems. What is now emerging is a ‘nexus’ where AI and energy storage reinforce one another. "AI is already helping to discover new materials, accelerate battery development, and optimise energy storage systems. At the same time, the growing demand for reliable, clean electricity for data centres is creating a powerful market for batteries, long-duration storage, and other flexibility technologies. "Under the right conditions, the digital infrastructure boom could help accelerate the clean energy transition beyond data centres themselves, creating spillover effects across other sectors."

Terra Innovatum targets Latin American data centres

Terra Innovatum Global, a developer of micro-modular nuclear reactors, has signed a commercial letter of intent (LOI) with Waiken ILW to deploy its SOLO micro-modular nuclear reactor platform at data centre facilities operated by DIRECTV Latin America and SKY Brasil in Jaguariúna, Brazil. The agreement covers an initial deployment of up to 8MWe of behind-the-meter generating capacity, with the reactors intended to provide on-site power for the facilities. Alessandro Petruzzi, co-founder and CEO of Terra Innovatum Global, says, "This initiative aims to provide reliable, behind-the-meter clean energy solutions for Waiken ILW’s data centers while serving as a proof of concept for other long-term, energy-intensive operations within the Waiken ILW group of companies. "Critical communications infrastructure demands uninterrupted, resilient power. We believe this agreement demonstrates the growing commercial opportunity for behind-the-meter nuclear energy beyond AI data centres, extending into media, telecommunications, and other critical infrastructure sectors." First commercial deployment planned for the region The companies note that the project marks Terra Innovatum's first announced commercial deployment initiative in Latin America and reflects increasing interest in factory-built, micro-modular nuclear reactors for energy-intensive facilities. The SOLO platform is intended for use across a range of sectors, including telecommunications, cloud infrastructure, data centres, financial services, healthcare, and industrial facilities. Giordano Morichi, Founding Partner, Chief Business Development Officer, and Director of Investor Relations at Terra Innovatum Global, comments, "This strategic collaboration with Waiken ILW highlights the commercial strength of our global supply chain and the versatility of our SOLO technology. "The agreement demonstrates that SOLO is not designed for a single market; rather, it is a platform that can scale across multiple industries and geographies, including telecommunications, cloud infrastructure, and data centres, financial services, healthcare, industrial facilities, and other mission-critical operations." Carlos Magariños, Chief Global and Regulatory Strategy at Waiken ILW, adds, "We partner with Terra Innovatum Global to drive a forward-looking energy strategy that reinforces our long-standing commitment to innovation, sustainability, and technological excellence across all our companies and partners. "This alliance will strengthen our infrastructure by delivering reliable, behind-the-meter clean energy to DIRECTV’s and SKY’s broadcasting data centers, paving the way for a cleaner, more resilient, and self-sustaining energy future across Argentina, Brazil, and the broader region." For more from Terra Innovatum, click here.

GreenScale sets data centre sustainability commitments

GreenScale, a developer of hyperscale data centre campuses, has published 12 sustainability commitments that will guide the development and long-term operation of its data centre campuses. The commitments conclude a 12-week campaign that began on Earth Day 2026, with one commitment announced each week. Together, they set measurable targets covering areas including renewable energy, embodied carbon, water stewardship, local communities, and responsible supply chains. GreenScale says it will report publicly on progress against each commitment as its developments move forward. Among the commitments are designing all data centres to enable heat export whilst seeking opportunities to reuse waste heat, operating backup generators using hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel, targeting a water usage effectiveness (WUE) score of 0.4 or below, and requiring major design and construction suppliers to achieve an EcoVadis rating of "Good" or higher. Campus designed around renewable power GreenScale says its sustainability strategy is linked to developing data centre campuses in locations with renewable energy resources and resilient connectivity. The company points to its planned Tonstad Campus in southern Norway as an example of this approach. New visualisations show the proposed 300MW campus, which is planned to comprise four data centre buildings across a 420,000m² site, representing more than €2.5 billion (£2.1 billion) in planned investment. Located next to the Ertsmyra substation and supplied by electricity from the nearby Tonstad Power Plant, one of Norway's largest hydropower facilities by annual electricity generation, the campus has been selected to take advantage of the region's renewable energy resources. Anna Dowson, Senior Director of Sustainability at GreenScale, says, "These commitments reflect the areas where we believe GreenScale can make the greatest positive impact. "By setting clear, measurable targets from the outset, we're creating a transparent way to track our progress over time and hold ourselves accountable as our campuses move through development and into operation." Dan Thomas, CEO of GreenScale, adds, "Data centre campuses are long-term infrastructure assets that will operate for decades. The decisions made before construction begin influence their performance throughout their lifetime. "That's why we've embedded sustainability into every stage of our approach, from selecting the right locations to designing, building, and operating our campuses. These commitments provide the framework that will guide that journey." GreenScale says the commitments were developed following a materiality assessment aligned with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), and the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB). For more from GreenScale, click here.

Shell renews renewable energy supply deal with Kao Data

Shell Energy UK, a supplier of gas, electricity, and broadband services, has renewed its renewable electricity supply agreement with Kao Data, a data centre developer and operator, extending its partnership with the data centre developer as demand for AI infrastructure continues to grow. Since 2022, Shell Energy has supplied Kao Data with around 140GWh of electricity each year, matched with generation from UK renewable energy assets. From 2025, the agreement has also included electricity generated by the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm, from which Shell Energy Europe offtakes around 20% of the project's total output. According to the companies, the agreement is intended to support the continued development of AI and advanced computing infrastructure while matching electricity consumption with UK-based renewable generation. Kao Data says its data centres are designed for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads, incorporating technologies including direct-to-chip liquid cooling. The company also states that it was the first data centre operator in Europe to transition its backup generators to hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO), which can reduce lifecycle emissions compared with conventional diesel. Partnership continues focus on renewable energy James Lewis, Investment Director at Kao Data, comments, "At Kao Data, sustainability is embedded in everything we do, and developing strategic relationships remains critical to help us achieve our goals. "Our collaboration with Shell Energy has been instrumental in shaping our long-term energy management and decarbonisation strategy. Extending this relationship enables our customers' electricity demand to be matched with certified renewable generation from UK-based sources, reinforcing our commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030." Greg Kavanagh, Head of Industrial & Commercial Sales at Shell Energy, adds, "Shell Energy is delighted to strengthen our collaboration with Kao Data. Our long-standing relationship reflects the alignment between our teams and a shared focus on innovation and sustainability. "By supplying electricity backed by asset-specific renewable certificates, we're supporting Kao Data's pioneering AI infrastructure and its broader efforts to reduce emissions and progress towards net zero emissions. "Together, we're helping to set a benchmark for how energy and technology companies can enable a low-carbon digital future." For more from Kao Data, click here.

EUDCA reaffirms sustainability commitment

The European Data Centre Association (EUDCA), the representative body of the European data centre community, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting climate-neutral data centres and the sustainable growth of Europe's digital infrastructure. The organisation says it remains focused on developing a digital economy that balances increasing demand for digital services with environmental sustainability and closer integration with Europe's energy system. Founded in 2012, the EUDCA works with the data centre industry, policymakers, and other stakeholders to support the development of Europe's digital infrastructure. As a co-founder of the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact, the association has committed to helping the sector achieve climate neutrality by 2030. This includes improving energy efficiency, increasing the use of renewable energy, reducing water consumption, supporting circular economy initiatives, and encouraging the reuse of waste heat. Over recent years, the EUDCA has worked with the European Commission and industry partners on policies intended to support both digital infrastructure growth and environmental objectives. Energy integration and grid capacity On 3 June 2026, the EUDCA joined the European Commission, Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, and organisations from across the energy sector in signing a Declaration of Intent to support the sustainable integration of data centres into the European energy system. The declaration highlights the need for reliable low-carbon electricity, closer collaboration between data centre operators, grid operators, and public authorities, and a stable regulatory environment to support future investment. The association also says that expanding Europe's digital infrastructure will depend on addressing wider challenges within the electricity system, including reinforcing transmission and distribution networks, streamlining planning and permitting processes, and improving access to low-carbon electricity. Michael Winterson, Secretary General of the EUDCA, comments, "We reaffirm our commitment to sustainability, irrespective of technological developments or changing demands. A liveable, equitable, and sustainable future remains our utmost goal." The EUDCA's annual State of European Data Centres report also tracks the sector's sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance using member data and information collected under the European Energy Efficiency Directive. For more from the EUDCA, click here.

Pure DC completes cross-border biomethane deal

Pure Data Centres Group (Pure DC), a designer, developer, and operator of hyperscale data centres, has completed what it describes as Europe's first large-scale cross-border biomethane purchase for a data centre, transferring 9GWh of certified biomethane from Germany to the Irish gas network. The transaction follows a proof-of-concept project announced in March 2026 and represents a significant increase in scale. According to Pure DC, the deal demonstrates that biomethane can be used to support the decarbonisation of gas-connected data centres through existing energy infrastructure and certification frameworks. The biomethane was produced in Germany during 2025 using waste and residue feedstocks. The fuel is certified under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) scheme and complies with the requirements of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) II and RED III. Pure DC says the biomethane has a carbon intensity of less than 12gCO₂/MJ, meeting thresholds required for zero-rated treatment under the EU Emissions Trading System, subject to approval of monitoring plans by the relevant authorities. The gas was mass balanced from the German network to Ireland through existing interconnectors, with renewable attributes tracked through the Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) Renewable Gas Registry. Biomethane forms part of wider net zero strategy Pure DC says renewable gas is intended to act as a transitional measure within its broader strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. The company is continuing to pursue biomethane procurement from Irish, European, and UK sources while also developing longer-term initiatives including renewable energy integration, energy storage, and efficiency improvements. Ireland's National Biomethane Strategy targets production of up to 5.7TWh of domestic biomethane annually by 2030. While local production capacity continues to develop, imports can help meet demand through existing gas infrastructure and certification systems. Maria Jose Rivas Duarte, Director of Sustainability at Pure DC, says, "This milestone supports Ireland’s Climate Action Plan and aligns with the LEU policy, under which data centres must meet at least 80% of their annual energy demand with additional renewable electricity. "By demonstrating that cross-border biomethane can be procured, mass balanced, and registered at volume through existing infrastructure, we are helping to pave the way for broader data centre sector adoption as well as other industries seeking a credible route to decarbonise natural gas." Pure DC says the transaction forms part of a strategy to develop a diversified biomethane portfolio spanning multiple geographies, feedstocks, and supply arrangements. Agnes Warner, Property Director at Pure DC, says, "Our biomethane procurement strategy is designed to build a balanced portfolio that provides long-term security and credibility. "For our customers, this means a demonstrable, auditable pathway to lower embedded emissions, making our platform more attractive to hyperscalers and enterprise customers while supporting their sustainability commitments." For more from Pure DC, click here.

Green Horizon secures approval for Norway data centre

Green Horizon, a Norwegian developer of hydropower-backed, AI-ready data centres, has received planning approval for Norway 1, a 36MW data centre development near Stavanger that is scheduled to enter service in the second half of 2027. The approval follows the earlier granting of zoning permission for the site and allows the Norwegian developer to progress to final design and construction. The company is currently working with consultants and contractors ahead of a planned construction start later this year. Located on Norway's southwest coast, Norway 1 is being developed as a carrier-neutral and cloud-neutral facility designed to provide connectivity to the UK, mainland Europe, and onward routes to North America. The facility will be built to Tier III standards and is designed to support high-density AI, GPU, and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads. Green Horizon says the site will include two 'Meet-Me Rooms', diverse connectivity options, and access to multiple network providers. Norway 1 forms the first phase of the company's wider data centre platform in the Stavanger region, where 96MW of power capacity has been secured across three planned developments. The company says the facility will be powered by renewable hydropower and is targeting a power usage effectiveness (PUE) rating of 1.1 at full load. Heat reuse strategy integrated into design A key element of the project is its heat reuse strategy. Green Horizon plans to supply excess heat generated by the data centre to both a new greenhouse that will be integrated into the facility's design and an existing commercial greenhouse located adjacent to the site. According to the company, the new greenhouse will be constructed directly above the data centre, enabling waste heat to be reused as part of a wider symbiosis partnership with Norway's largest greenhouse operator. The concept has been technically validated and approved by the local municipality. Operations at the site will be supported by CBRE, which will provide operational services and monitoring. Richard Rettedal, CEO of Green Horizon, comments, "Securing planning approval for Norway 1 marks a major milestone for Green Horizon and for our ambition to build Norway’s AI data centre platform. "Customers deploying AI and high-performance compute need dependable capacity, resilience, and a clear route to scale. Norway 1 is designed to deliver high-density infrastructure powered by renewable hydropower, with heat reuse enabled by design, supporting both lower-cost operation and a lower operational footprint. "We’re proud that this project will contribute to the local community and bring new, renewable powered capacity to the market." The €300 million (£259 million) development is expected to create around 400 construction jobs during the build phase and contribute additional renewable-powered data centre capacity to Norway's digital infrastructure. Construction is expected to begin later in 2026, with the facility targeted to become operational in the second half of 2027.

VIRTUS installs super-grid transformers at Berlin campus

VIRTUS Data Centres, a UK data centre owner-operator and part of ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC), has completed the installation of two 185MVA super-grid transformers at its Wustermark campus in Berlin/Brandenburg, Germany. According to the company, the transformers are among the largest deployed at a European data centre and represent a key milestone in the development of the site. The Wustermark campus is expected to become the first data centre campus in the Berlin/Brandenburg region to connect directly to a 380kV transmission network. VIRTUS says this will give customers the option of operating without diesel generators while maintaining access to conventional backup generation where required. The transformers form part of the campus's initial 300MW capacity, with power supplied through a dedicated 500MW substation and dual direct connections to the 50Hertz 380kV network. VIRTUS says the integration with the 50Hertz Wustermark substation and the high-voltage transmission connections are designed to provide a resilient and stable power architecture for large-scale data centre operations. High-voltage design targets efficiency and resilience The company says the site has been designed to support both traditional generator-backed operations and a generator-free operating model. As with other VIRTUS facilities, the campus will operate using 100% certified renewable electricity. The site is also located close to regional renewable energy resources, including onshore wind generation. According to VIRTUS, the higher-voltage transformer design provides several operational benefits, including improved electrical efficiency, reduced transmission losses, increased system stability, and enhanced resilience for high-density computing environments. The company adds that the approach may also help reduce system usage charges and long-term energy costs. Mike Golding, SVP of Construction at VIRTUS Data Centres, says, “Delivering the Wustermark Campus has been one of the most ambitious engineering programmes VIRTUS has undertaken to date. “From the 380kV connections to the deployment of these super-grid transformers, every element has been designed to deliver levels of resilience and scalability that have not previously been available in this region. “This campus represents a new generation of infrastructure - one that supports AI-scale growth, reduces reliance on generators, and aligns with the future of renewable energy.” For more from VIRTUS, click here.

GreenScale study examines data centre energy use

GreenScale, a developer of hyperscale data centre campuses, has published analysis examining how a proposed data centre development in Derry/Londonderry could support renewable energy use and reduce electricity system costs in Northern Ireland. The whitepaper analyses grid constraints, renewable energy curtailment, electricity demand, and infrastructure capacity across the region. According to the report, locating data centre infrastructure closer to renewable energy generation in Northern Ireland’s North West could improve grid utilisation and reduce renewable energy wastage. Northern Ireland is targeting 80% renewable electricity consumption by 2030, with the transition projected to deliver annual consumer savings of approximately £110 million. Brian Doherty, Managing Director of GreenScale Ireland, says, “This whitepaper highlights a growing mismatch between where renewable energy is generated and where demand is located. "Northern Ireland has made strong progress in expanding wind capacity, but transmission and system constraints mean a significant proportion of that clean energy is curtailed, which means it is effectively switched off, often during periods of high generation. "This increases system costs and reduces the value of existing infrastructure. A strategically located data centre campus in the North West could help absorb surplus power, reduce curtailment, and support lower overall electricity system costs.” Wind curtailment remains a major challenge The report states that 29.6% of wind generation in Northern Ireland was curtailed during 2024 because of transmission constraints and electricity system balancing requirements. According to the analysis, the strongest wind generation resources are concentrated in the North West, while the largest areas of electricity demand are located elsewhere. The report argues that this imbalance limits the effective use of renewable generation during periods of high wind output. GreenScale says flexible electricity demand from data centres could help absorb excess renewable generation that would otherwise be curtailed. The company also states that facilities capable of adjusting parts of their power demand in response to grid conditions could improve overall electricity system efficiency. Pressure grows on established data centre markets The whitepaper also highlights wider growth in global data centre electricity demand, which is projected to reach 945TWh by 2030. The report notes that established European data centre markets including Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin (FLAP-D) are facing increasing grid constraints and longer connection timelines, leading operators to consider alternative regions with greater power availability. GreenScale identifies Northern Ireland’s North West as a suitable location for future data centre infrastructure because of its wind generation resources, available land, and proximity to renewable energy supply. The report concludes that improving alignment between renewable generation and electricity demand could reduce energy wastage, improve grid efficiency, and support Northern Ireland’s clean energy targets. For more from GreenScale, click here.