Digital Realty's Commitment to Sustainability in 2024
Digital Realty (NYSE: DLR), a leading global provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data center solutions, has released its 2024 Impact Report. This report underscores the company's ongoing commitment to sustainability, offering insights into its clean energy initiatives, resource management, and other sustainable practices.
Key Developments in Renewable Energy
In 2024, Digital Realty made impressive strides toward its sustainability objectives. The company reported achieving a renewable energy capacity of 1.5 gigawatts (GW) under contract. Notably, 185 data centers operated by the company were matched with 100% renewable energy. This achievement reflects Digital Realty's dedication to establishing and operating environmentally responsible data centers, making it a trusted choice for over 5,000 customers worldwide.
Renewable Energy Initiatives
The 2024 Impact Report highlights several key components of Digital Realty's renewable energy procurement program, which successfully sourced 75% of its global electricity from renewable resources—an increase of 9% from the previous year. Some notable initiatives include:
- 1.5 GW of new solar and wind energy projects under contract.
- 8.8 megawatts (MW) of onsite solar installations.
- 100% renewable energy across various international locations including Europe, Sydney, Singapore, and more.
Resource Efficiency and Conservation
Digital Realty is committed to responsible resource usage, particularly regarding electricity and water resources utilized in their data centers. Their energy conservation initiatives in 2024 led to significant accomplishments, such as the expected savings of 42,400 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy and a reduction of 28,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) annually. The company has been proactive in getting U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR certification for 69% of its managed portfolio based on IT capacity and maintains more ENERGY STAR certifications than any other data center provider globally.
Water and Fuel Management
Digital Realty also achieved impressive results in water conservation. In 2024, the company utilized non-potable water sources for 42% of its irrigation and cooling needs. Additionally, they successfully reduced the overall water usage intensity (WUE) for their North American colocation portfolio by 14% year-over-year by employing innovative water-free cooling systems. Digital Realty is also broadening its use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO 100), a renewable diesel alternative sourced from waste fats and oils, used across 30 global sites, covering 17% of the company’s operating portfolio.
Sustainable Building Practices
Digital Realty emphasizes sustainable construction and operations across its extensive portfolio of over 300 properties worldwide. The company certified eight global data centers in 2024, encompassing a total of 1.9 million square feet, according to leading sustainable building standards such as LEED and BREEAM. Collectively, Digital Realty now boasts over 15 million square feet of certified space under green building criteria.
Ensuring Resilience
Reliability and resilience in operations remain top priorities for Digital Realty, which has built a solid record of performance amidst various operational, security, and climate-related challenges. The company's operational excellence is bolstered by continual risk assessments and robust physical and cyber-security measures, enabling them to align their reporting with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations.
A Vision for the Future
Aaron Binkley, Vice President of Sustainability at Digital Realty, emphasized the importance of ongoing innovation and partnerships as the company progresses towards 2025 and beyond. Binkley stated, "The 2024 Impact Report demonstrates our longstanding commitment to sustainability. Advancing data center practices necessitates ongoing innovation, robust partnerships, and enduring investment in solutions that encompass renewable energy integration, water conservation, proactive use of low-carbon fuels, and sustainable data center design. Digital Realty’s commitment to this evolution is paramount for ensuring a resilient digital economy."
About Digital Realty
Digital Realty connects companies and data through a comprehensive suite of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions. With its global data center platform, PlatformDIGITAL®, Digital Realty provides a secure environment and uses a proven methodology (Pervasive Datacenter Architecture - PDx®) to support innovation, from cloud and digital transformation to emerging technologies. The company’s extensive global footprint includes over 300 facilities in more than 50 metro areas across 25 countries. To learn more about Digital Realty, please visit their website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main focus of Digital Realty's 2024 Impact Report?
The report emphasizes the company's sustainability achievements, particularly in renewable energy and resource conservation strategies.
How much renewable energy capacity does Digital Realty currently have?
Digital Realty has achieved 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity under contract as of 2024.
What sustainable practices is Digital Realty implementing?
The company is focusing on energy efficiency, resource management, sustainable building certifications, and water conservation initiatives.
How does Digital Realty ensure operational resilience?
They conduct regular risk assessments, set up physical and cyber-security safeguards, and work towards addressing climate-related challenges.
Where can I find more information about Digital Realty?
More details about Digital Realty and its services can be found on its official website.
