Digital Realty Signs Five Renewable Energy Deals to Serve Spain and France – Intelligent CIO Europe

With a commitment of 134 MW, the company’s total renewable energy under the contract will be 1.4 GW worldwide.

Digital Realty, a leading global provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data center, colocation and interconnection solutions, announced the signing of five power purchase agreements (PPAs) for its operations in Spain and France, underscoring the company’s commitment to expanding its renewable energy footprint around the world and meeting its sustainability goals.

In Spain, Digital Realty signed a package solar contract consisting of three separate contracts for 12 years. The projects developed by BRUC, a leading solar developer headquartered in Spain, are located in the Spanish provinces of Cádiz and Zaragoza.

“For BRUC, this agreement is part of our strategy to achieve stable, long-term revenues in partnership with renowned companies that share our vision of transitioning to renewable energy to fight climate change,” said Luis Venero, CEO of BRUC.

Additionally, Digital Realty has signed two 15-year wind energy contracts in France. Projects developed by wpd, a leading renewable energy project developer based in Germany, include small wind farms in the French regions of Bretagne and Hauts-de-France.

“At wpd, we are proud to support our customers’ goals of reducing their carbon footprint. That’s why we’re delighted to be working with Digital Realty on our recently concluded PPA for wind farms in two locations in France. PPAs offer cost-effective and predictable energy supply solutions for companies looking to engage in the energy transition,” added Grégoire Simon, president of wpd onshore France.

Collectively, these PPAs represent an estimated 347 GWh of renewable energy, equivalent to the electricity consumption of approximately 200,000 households across Europe annually. The projects will also expand the pool of renewable energy across Europe, where as of 2020, Digital Realty’s operations are 100% geared to renewable energy.

“The signing of the latest agreements in Spain and France is the result of the continued implementation of Digital Realty’s sustainability strategy, aimed at supporting the development of high-quality renewable energy sources and strengthening our renewable energy footprint. We are committed to continuing to expand our renewable energy portfolio and making progress toward our global sustainability goals,” said Aaron Binkley, vice president of sustainability at Digital Realty.

In 2020, Digital Realty joined the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), becoming the first global data center organization of its size and scale to do so. As part of this commitment, the company intends to reduce emissions in Scope 1 and 2 by 68% by 2030, and in Scope 3 by 24%.

With over 120 data centers around the world now powered by 100% renewable energy, Digital Realty continues to be an industry leader in sustainable data center solutions. The company has entered into 15 renewable energy PPAs globally, generating approximately 2,200 GWh of renewable energy annually.

Schneider Electric supported the negotiations, ensuring that the contracts met the standards of the digital reality.

“The data center industry is one of the world’s most critical sectors, powering the global digital economy and driving the green transition through the adoption, generation and development of renewable energy,” said Marc Garner, vice president, Secure Power, Schneider Electric, Europe.

“Such power purchase agreements are an integral part of the company’s future, helping energy-intensive industries simultaneously realize the financial and sustainability benefits of green innovation. We are pleased to support Digital Realty as it continues to decarbonize its world-leading data center portfolio,” Garner added.

Digital Realty’s commitment to sustainability and successful execution of its renewable energy strategy reaffirms its position as an industry leader, driving positive change and contributing to a greener future.

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