Digital Realty (NYSE: DLR), the largest global provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions, has released its 2024 Impact Report, showcasing the company’s sustainability performance, including a comprehensive overview of its clean energy commitment, resource conservation and other sustainable business practices.
“Digital Realty continued to make strong progress towards its sustainability goals in 2024, reaching 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity under contract and matching 185 data centers with 100% renewable energy,” said Andrew Power, President and Chief Executive Officer, Digital Realty. “This reflects our commitment to build, power, and operate sustainable data centers, which is trusted and relied upon by more than 5,000 customers.”
2024 Impact Report Highlights
- Clean Energy: Digital Realty achieved 75% renewable energy of its global electricity needs in 2024, a 9% increase from the prior year. The company’s current renewable energy procurement program includes:
- 1.5 GW of new solar and wind projects under contract
- 8.8 megawatt (MW) of onsite solar installations
- 100% renewable energy for its portfolios in Europe, Sydney, Singapore, Texas, and New Jersey, and all facilities in its North American colocation portfolio. 185 data centers matched with 100% renewable energy
- Resource Conservation: Digital Realty continues to fund and explore initiatives to use resources responsibly, including the electricity used to power data centers and the water used to cool them.
- Energy: In 2024, Digital Realty’s energy conservation initiatives resulted in multiple achievements, including:
- Energy efficiency projects that are expected to have saved 42,400 megawatt hours (MWh) and 28,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) annually.
- U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR certification for 69% of U.S. managed portfolio by IT capacity, more ENERGY STAR certifications than any other data center provider globally.
- Certified 100% of its Zurich portfolio under the Swiss Datacenter Efficiency Association rating, including an industry first Gold+ certification.
- Water: 42% of Digital Realty’s irrigation and cooling needs came from non-potable water sources and the company reduced overall water usage intensity (WUE) for its North American colocation portfolio by 14% year-over-year through the pioneering usage of water-free based cooling systems.
- Fuel: Digital Realty continues to expand its use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO 100), a renewable diesel made from waste fats and oils that is a replacement for conventional diesel in generators. The company has deployed HVO 100 across 30 global sites, covering 17% of our global operating portfolio.
- Energy: In 2024, Digital Realty’s energy conservation initiatives resulted in multiple achievements, including:
- Sustainable Buildings: As an owner and operator of over 300+ properties worldwide, Digital Realty recognizes the importance of sustainable building practices. In 2024, Digital Realty certified eight global data centers totalling 1.9 million square feet in accordance with sustainable building standards such as LEED and BREEAM certifications. Digital Realty now has more than 15 million square feet certified under green building standards.
- Resiliency: Digital Realty has compiled a strong track record of reliability and resilience to operational, security, weather and climate change-related events. Our track record of operational excellence is supported by regular risk assessments, physical and cyber-security safeguards, training and supply chain preparedness. Digital Realty aligns its reporting with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Recommendations.
“The progress highlighted in our 2024 Impact Report was built on years of continued commitment to transitioning towards more sustainable operations,” said Aaron Binkley, Vice President of Sustainability, Digital Realty. “As we look to 2025 and beyond, advancing sustainable data center practices will require deeper innovation, stronger partnerships, and continued investment in next-generation solutions, from renewable energy integration and water conservation to low-carbon fuels and green data center design. At Digital Realty, we’re committed to leading this evolution, ensuring that the infrastructure powering the digital economy is resilient and responsible.”
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