Renewables and Energy: Infrastructure Builds Driving Sustainable Power

Colt DCS publishes its second Sustainability Highlights report

Colt Data Centre Services, a global provider of hyperscale and large enterprise data centre solutions, has released its second 2023 Sustainability Highlights Report. In 2023, Colt DCS further reduced its global absolute greenhouse gas emission by 40%, compared to its 2019 base year. This means that Colt DCS is currently on track to reach its 1.5oC 2030 climate targets, approved by the Science-based Targets initiative (SBTi). To sustain momentum in delivering on its ESG strategy, Colt DCS is already showing progress towards its long-term goal to reach net zero emissions by 2045. The business is undertaking actions such as renewable energy procurement and energy efficiency initiatives. It is prioritising close collaboration with its suppliers and customers to make sure it is decarbonising across its entire value chain. Zero waste in operations and conserving natural resources is also a priority to prevent environmental degradation. Further key features from the 2023 Sustainability Highlights Report include: Decarbonising the business 100% renewable electricity in Europe and India 67% reduction in absolute Scope 1 & 2 emissions compared to 2019 38% reduction in absolute Scope 3 emissions compared to 2019 Connecting people Launch of the AIM Framework - which serves as the foundation of its vision to become an employer of choice 83% of employees affirm Colt DCS as an excellent place to work 74 global customer satisfaction (NPS) score Safeguarding the company “A” rating CDP Climate and Platinum score for EcoVadis Standalone DCS Governance Committee formed As demands for digital technologies has grown, so too has the number of data centres across the globe. Therefore, data centre operators have a responsibility to design, build, and operate facilities that are good for society and the planet. Colt DCS has been committed to expanding existing and constructing new data centres across India, Japan, the Netherlands, France, Germany and the UK. All new data centre builds from Colt DCS in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Mumbai have been or will be constructed using its Global Reference Design (GRD) guidelines which adopt a number of principles to enhance a site's environmental sustainability performance. Niclas Sanfridsson, Chief Executive Officer at Colt DCS said: “I want to extend my gratitude to our valued customers, partners, and dedicated employees. Your support and collaboration has been instrumental in achieving this significant progress in our sustainability goals.   Data centres are the backbone of our global digital economy and a vital component of modern society. Designing, building, and operating these facilities with sustainability at the core has never been more crucial. Today, achieving our vision - to be the most trusted and customer- centric data centre operator in the industry - means investing in a future that is better for people, places and the planet.”   Fore more from Colt DCS, click here.

Green digital infrastructure – where we are, and looking to the future

By Anthea van Scherpenzeel, Senior Sustainability Manager, Colt DCS The amount of data we use is rising rapidly. In fact, by 2025 the volume of data created, captured, copied, and consumed worldwide is predicted to reach 181ZB, more than quadrupling 2019 figures. As data volume increases, data centres must keep up with demand and respond to evolving needs, but this raises new challenges. Creating sustainable digital infrastructure that can cope with these new requirements is a tricky task. Increased power consumption, cooling needs, and new construction can call the green credentials of data centres into question, with sustainability now a key priority for all major stakeholders. However, are data centres the catalyst for sustainable change? And what should they be doing to play their role in the climate fight? Colt DCS takes a look at the past, present, and future of sustainable digital infrastructure, and how we can minimise the environmental impact of data centres for good.  Looking back, and looking in the now In the 1990s and 2000s, demand for data centres was minimal. Primarily used by content providers to host companies and e-commerce sites, their energy consumption and emissions were relatively low. Now, data centres consume huge amounts of energy to support new technologies like cloud, AI, and quantum computing that have an increasingly large impact on the planet. A hyperscale data centre can require around 150MW of grid capacity and consume hundreds of GWh of electricity annually. Add 2023’s boom in generative AI into the mix, and the carbon footprint of data centres will only increase. For instance, the AI industry alone could consume as much energy as the Netherlands by 2027. Data centres are currently responsible for 1% of energy-related global greenhouse emissions with the IEA signalling that improvement is needed in this space. The environmental impact of data centres must not be underestimated. In line with the Paris Agreement, hyperscalers must set their own tangible targets to decrease their impact on the planet, as well as supporting their customers’ net zero strategies. However, not all data centres are as ahead of the curve as others. Data centres need to step up Data centres have a responsibility to up their environmental game. Not only to meet the needs of the upcoming EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and EU Taxonomy, but also to win the business of those with clear sustainability strategies in place. There are many areas where data centres can improve their green credentials, including energy, waste, and biodiversity. Hyperscalers are in a prime position to source renewable energy, implement more efficient or less harmful cooling equipment, and harness waste energy to keep emissions and environmental impact down. But considerations for the environment often end here.  True decarbonisation requires tangible net zero strategies, achieved through collaboration with customers and suppliers. With the CSRD and Scope 3 tracking, data centres need to be more aware and conscious of third-party emissions than ever before. Being on the same sustainability journey as partners goes one step further, ensuring that ESG is not just a tick-box exercise. Ultimately, your efforts can be negated when green initiatives are overshadowed by unsustainable partners. The value chain must be analysed and partners must be engaged in important conversations to align sustainability goals and priorities. Setting goals for the path ahead Science-based, measurable goals create a clear view of the path ahead. There will always be uncertainties with long-term targets, with new regulations, laws in different nations, and global events throwing a spanner in the works. However, when data centres create a science-based roadmap and feasible targets, this short-term uncertainty is unlikely to put long-term goals at risk. One element that will become more important in the future is data centres’ embedded carbon footprint. Likely to play a large role in reporting, this includes metrics that cover the whole lifecycle of a data centre from shipping materials to construction to operation. For complete transparency, more thorough data is needed from the start of a data centre project to ensure sustainable practices are baked in from a project’s inception. Monitoring usually takes place from the on-switch, but this doesn’t account for the environmental impact of the whole value chain.  This makes supplier evaluation and partner choice even more important. One data centre provider can only do so much, it’s up to all the players in the market to work together to drive a bigger impact for the overall industry. Furthermore, digital infrastructure operators must work with partners and customers to align on sustainability as a core part of strategy. With the boom in AI and the increased need for data centres, we must be cautious that racing to keep pace with innovation doesn’t push sustainability down the priority list. It is important for businesses to consider the environmental impact of their data, and to choose the right partner who can help in achieving a net zero status throughout their operational network. When managed correctly, data centres can, and should, be a key player in the climate fight. Sustainability will soon be a key differentiator, and as collaboration increases to fulfil reporting regulations, choosing the right partners to reach net zero targets will be vital. 

AirTrunk and ib vogt sign Virtual Power Purchase Agreement

Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) hyperscale data centre specialist, AirTrunk, and international renewable energy developer, ib vogt, have signed the first data centre renewable energy Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) under Malaysia’s Corporate Green Power Programme (CGPP). The CGPP is an initiative from the Suruhanjaya Tenaga, Malaysia’s Energy Commission, enabling businesses to sign VPPAs and participate in renewable energy projects in Malaysia. A quota of 800MW of solar energy generation capacity is allocated to the programme and developers can apply for a maximum capacity of 30MW with a secured offtaker.  AirTrunk, as the offtaker, will procure renewable energy from the 29.99MW solar farm that ib vogt is currently developing under the CGPP. Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-2024. This announcement builds on AirTrunk’s renewable energy agreements in Hong Kong and Australia. These include a long term PPA for a new solar farm development that will add renewable energy generation capacity into Australia’s grid and a first-of-its-kind renewable energy solution in Hong Kong that will match data centre electricity consumption with local renewable energy certificates.

Equinix and wpd sign seven Power Purchase Agreement deals

Equinix and wpd have signed seven 20-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) that will provide over 100MW in capacity, and more than 300GWh per year of green energy output in France. The Power Purchase Agreement, which is one of the largest of its kind signed in France, was facilitated by Schneider Electric and includes four wind projects in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, two in Hauts-de-France and one wind farm in Pays de la Loire. The agreement will see long term financial support to help further the deployment of renewable energy in France and make a major contribution in decarbonising the grid, as well as reaffirming Equinix’s commitment to sustainability, with the company continuing its focus on becoming climate neutral globally by 2030. PPA solutions such as these are highly impactful tools for achieving sustainability targets for companies and demonstrate the maturity of PPAs in France. For wpd, the PPAs allow it to diversify its financing options for wind power projects being developed. Régis Castagné, Managing Director, Equinix France, says, “We are proud to sign one of the biggest Power Purchase Agreements in French history, marking a significant milestone in France and underscoring Equinix's global dedication to investing in renewable energy solutions. Through aligning with France's own renewable energy production goals, we're delighted to be positively and proactively contributing to the nation's decarbonisation and renewable investments. Equinix is committed to making responsible business decisions that will support our customers on their sustainable journeys and the signing of this deal with wpd helps us make a big leap forward in on our own path to becoming climate neutral by 2030.” This deal also represents a major step forward for wpd France, augmenting its position as a major player in the French and European PPA market. The contracts will come into force in 2025 at latest – supporting renewable energy in France up to the year 2045. The Guarantees of Origin (GOs) generated from the project will be allocated to Equinix’s locations in all eleven of the company’s data centres in France.

Schneider Electric urges accelerating decarbonisation at Davos meeting

Far greater deployment of existing technologies is needed to keep climate change from spiralling out of control, Schneider Electric has urged. Accelerating climate change, geopolitical tensions, see-sawing energy prices, and pressure from stakeholders to address these risks, have pushed environmental sustainability and energy resilience to the top of the corporate and policy agenda in recent years. They form the backdrop to the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, from 15 to 19 January 2024. “With energy accounting for 80% of carbon emissions, the energy transition is central to decarbonisation,” says Peter Herweck, CEO of Schneider Electric. “The potential of AI is currently capturing everyone's attention. But let’s not forget that existing technologies – both renewable energy generation and digital and electrification tools that lower energy demand by rendering sites and operations far more energy efficient – can sharply reduce emissions now. There’s no time to wait for tomorrow’s solutions when much more can be achieved with what we have today.” Action from the private sector, by companies around the globe, is key to lowering emissions. Encouragingly, the business world is increasingly making commitments to sustainability and decarbonisation. As of January 2024, more than 4,200 companies worldwide have set emissions-reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), for example. The power of energy efficiency, in particular, is gaining more recognition. Last year, Schneider Electric partnered with the International Energy Agency to bring together government and business leaders for a major conference on the topic. A new report published by the World Economic Forum on 8 January, found that acting on energy consumption through energy savings, energy efficiency and value cooperation partnerships could unlock up to $2 trillion in savings for the wider economy, and avoid building 3,000 additional power stations if actions are taken before 2030. And research conducted by Schneider Electric recently showed that installing digital building and power management solutions in existing buildings could sharply reduce operational carbon emissions, with a payback period of less than three years, highlighting the huge potential in that area alone. Challenges and opportunities in tackling Scope 3 emissions Another key area of focus is tackling the indirect emissions generated by companies’ Scope 3 emissions activities. These come from their upstream and downstream value chains and account for the largest part of a company’s carbon emissions – more than 70%, according to the UN Global Compact. The global supply chain disruptions of the past few years have helped push this topic up the corporate agenda. More than two-thirds of business leaders interviewed for a report last year by Schneider Electric, in partnership with Women Action Sustainability (WAS), says that regulatory pressure was pushing them to initiate decarbonisation planning with supply chain partners. Those surveyed also say they were seeing an increased demand for supply chain decarbonisation information from investors and/or financial entities. "Businesses that are serious about decarbonisation need to look beyond their own operations and address their entire value chain. And they need to realise that encouraging and helping their suppliers, customers, and other business partners to strive for greater energy efficiency – through electrification and digital technologies – and cleaner energy procurement, is a huge part of the answer,” says Olivier Blum, Executive Vice President of Energy Management at Schneider Electric. Read more latest news here.

Octopus invests £200m into data centre pioneer Deep Green

Octopus Energy’s generation arm has announced a £200m investment in Deep Green to help it rapidly scale its ground-breaking technology across the UK. Processing data generates a lot of heat. The revolutionary business model pioneered by Deep Green means this heat doesn’t go to waste and instead is used to provide free heat for energy intensive organisations like leisure centres. By teaming up with Deep Green, a public swimming pool in Devon was able to slash its pool-heating bill by over 60%. In return, Deep Green gets free cooling, which provides it with a significant competitive edge over traditional data centres. This allows it to offer more affordable, highly energy efficient computing to businesses across the UK.  Deep Green’s customers require data centre processing for a range of uses including AI, machine learning, video rendering or cloud applications. Deep Green’s current customers include York University, and the company has signed partnerships with industry suppliers, Civo and Alces Flight, who offer the servers to their customers. Installed on-site, its data centres in, for example swimming pools, don’t require additional grid upgrades or planning permission, so can be up and running in a matter of weeks. The investment is made via Octopus’ dedicated Octopus Energy Transition Fund (OETF) and the Sky (ORI SCSp) fund it manages. Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation, says, “To tackle the energy crisis head-on, we need innovative solutions to unusual problems. By using excess heat from data centres to slash energy bills for communities across the UK, Deep Green solves two problems with one solution. We’re looking forward to rapidly rolling this out and positively impacting even more people as we drive towards a cleaner, cheaper energy future.” Mark Bjornsgaard, Founder and CEO of Deep Green, comments, “We are thrilled with Octopus’s commitment to support our next phase of growth. Placing data centres within the fabric of society transforms the waste heat they produce into a valuable resource that benefits communities. “The data centre sector is rightly facing scrutiny about its growing energy demand and associated carbon emissions. Our data centres are highly energy efficient and support local communities with free heat.” OETF launched in 2023 to scale companies in fast-growing sectors decarbonising society, from heating, to storage, low carbon transport and more. Octopus has backed ground-source heat pump company, Kensa Group, through this fund.

Vertiv opens a new manufacturing facility and test lab in India

Vertiv has announced the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Pune, India. The opening was to meet the surging demand for data centres and supporting infrastructure solutions globally, including India and the APAC region. The new plant manufactures thermal management products and solutions tailored for colocation, cloud, telecom, and enterprise data centres, catering to both domestic and international markets. This is Vertiv’s third facility in India, joining with existing manufacturing facilities in Ambernath and Pune. Spanning 4.8 acres (210,000ft2), the facility supports the manufacturing of cooling solutions ranging from 200W to 2MW+, including adiabatic free cooling chillers, large custom air handling units (AHU), thermal wall units, a new range of large direct expansion (DX), packaged DX, free cooling with economiser units, a new range of in-row cooling units, wall mount units, and rack cooling systems. The facility also boasts state-of-the-art psychometric labs, providing performance testing, a customer experience centre, and design support capabilities. It is located in an India Green Building Council (IGBC) compliant park focusing on sustainability and reducing environmental impact. CEO of Vertiv, Giordano (Gio) Albertazzi, says, “With increasing global digitalisation and the rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the data centre industry is experiencing growth and a demand for more capacity, including for data centre thermal and power infrastructure. India’s emergence as a data centre hub in the APAC region is a key reason that we built this third manufacturing facility in India, and it reinforces our commitment to nurturing the country’s data centre ecosystem while also addressing global demand.”

EcoDataCenter’s first data centre to use Alfa Laval heat exchangers with SSAB Zero steel

EcoDataCenter is the first to deploy Alfa Laval heat exchangers made using recycled steel, produced without new CO2 emissions from SSAB. This deployment is said to signify a pivotal moment in the ongoing effort to reduce carbon emissions within the supply chain, exemplifying the significance of collaboration in the journey towards a sustainable future. ''It is crucial to leverage innovations together with partners. This underlines the importance of collaborative efforts in mitigating emissions,'' says Peter Michelson, CEO at EcoDataCenter. The result of a Product Carbon Footprint assessment of the latest data centre at EcoDataCenter 1 shows that 60% of the embodied carbon comes from the equipment. The introduction of Alfa Laval heat exchangers made using SSAB Zero, a recycled steel produced without new CO2 emissions, is a significant step forward in EcoDataCenter's mission to reduce emissions. ''Alfa Laval's commitment to sustainability is further strengthened through our collaboration with EcoDataCenter. By incorporating recycled steel in our heat exchangers, we are not only reducing our own carbon footprint but also driving the entire value chain towards a cleaner and more sustainable future,'' says Anna Blomborg, Manager of Data Center Alfa Laval.

Vertiv TimberMod to help increase data centre sustainability

Vertiv has introduced the innovative Vertiv TimberMod variant of its Vertiv Power Module and SmartMod families, featuring mass timber as a key structural component instead of steel for prefabricated modular (PFM) data centre solutions. Available in North America and in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), this ground-breaking introduction reflects Vertiv’s commitment to supporting customers' sustainability objectives by using a more environmentally friendly material that can minimise resource depletion and lower CO2 emissions. Mass timber, if sourced from sustainably harvested wood, serves as a renewable construction material with the potential to minimise resource depletion and lower carbon footprint by up to three times, compared to steel based on the reduction of CO2 emissions associated with the cradle-to-gate product lifecycle and the transport of materials and structural elements to the assembly site. This eco-friendly choice aligns with Vertiv's mission to offer solutions that meet high-performance standards, but also contribute to the global effort to reduce CO2 emissions. Vertiv TimberMod meets applicable building structural requirements, providing robust performance in the face of seismic activity, wind forces, and structural demands. Beyond its structural prowess, this innovative solution adds an aesthetic dimension to data centre architecture, seamlessly blending into diverse environments with an elegant design. “We are dedicated to finding innovative solutions that can help reduce data centre carbon footprints through the use of environmentally friendly construction materials and processes,” says Viktor Petik, Vice President and EMEA Leader for Vertiv’s Integrated Modular Solutions business. “By incorporating materials from renewable sources, Vertiv TimberMod not only provides a more eco-friendly option but does so without compromising on performance, thus creating a positive impact on both the environment and our customers' operational efficiency.” “Although timber data centres are not new, they have become much more accessible now that a major prefabricated modular data centre vendor offers data centre building blocks or an entire data centre built with timber, with the engineering assurance that it will remain reliable,” says Vlad Galabov, Director for Cloud and Data Centre at Technology Research and Advisory Group, Omdia. Vertiv TimberMod was unveiled at Vertiv’s press conference, ‘Vertiv Driving Innovation 2023: The Prefabricated Modular Revolution’, and is the latest addition to a growing portfolio of standard and customisable PFM solutions. The flexible capacity of Vertiv prefabricated solutions makes them an ideal choice for data centres of all sizes, from small and medium to hyperscale, offering scalability and adaptability that align with the dynamic growth of businesses. Easy deployment and flexibility are key features, ensuring that customers can expand data centre capabilities seamlessly. Vertiv also provides end-to-end services to facilitate rapid deployment and efficient operations. This comprehensive support includes commissioning, ongoing maintenance, remote monitoring, and training, reinforcing the dedication to provide a holistic solution for customers.

Pulsant gains recognition for environmental and sustainability initiatives

Pulsant has seen its commitment to environmental and sustainable working practices receive two key industry certifications in recognition of its focus on environmental and sustainability initiatives across its data centre estate and management systems.  Rating in the top 25% of responding businesses, it received a silver medal from EcoVadis, with particular strengths in the area of its environmental practices. This achievement reflects Pulsant's commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility. The company has implemented numerous initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint, minimise waste, and promote ethical business practices, including wellbeing and mental health. Furthering its sustainability credentials, its energy management system has been awarded the respected ISO 50001 certification, giving independent assurance to its effectiveness in improving its energy performance. As an operator of a variety of UK data centres, it is working towards an overall PUE of 1.3 by 2030, and is on track to surpass the 2023 target of 1.53, following from the success of a number of initiatives such as consolidation project at Maidenhead site, cold aisle containment, cooling and UPS infrastructure upgrades, and temperature optimisation. Commenting on the news, Helen Munro, Head of Environment and Sustainability at Pulsant, notes, "Sustainability is a key priority at Pulsant. We are committed to continuous improvement across all aspects of our activities, both internally and across our wider supply chain. These certifications highlight that our comprehensive policies and programmes are delivering meaningful results. Credit to the teams across our sites and operations across all parts of the business for making it happen." As the need for improved environmental management intensifies, Pulsant is focused on further minimising its climate impact, with initiatives already underway, including piloting HVO fuelled generators and evolving cooling technologies. “We are currently ahead of the annual targets we set to work towards our 2050 net zero targets, but well aware that we need to continue to push to find new opportunities to improve our carbon footprint and environmental impact in the years ahead. We all have a part to play in safeguarding the planet and we are aware of the role our organisation needs to play in that,” concludes Helen.