Digital Realty Trust Inc. Releases 2024 Impact Report: A Leap Towards Sustainability
Digital Realty Trust Inc. (NYSE: DLR), the leading global provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data center solutions, has unveiled its 2024 Impact Report, detailing significant advancements in sustainability and resource conservation across its operations. The report reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to integrating sustainable practices into its business model, a strategy that is crucial as the demand for data center services continues to grow.
1. Significant Progress in Renewable Energy
In 2024, Digital Realty achieved a remarkable milestone, securing 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity under contract. This effort is part of the company’s broader goal to transition to sustainable energy sources, and it has resulted in 185 of its data centers operating on 100% renewable energy.
Andrew Power, President and Chief Executive Officer of Digital Realty, emphasized the company’s achievements: “Digital Realty continued to make strong progress towards its sustainability goals in 2024, reaching 1.5 GW of renewable energy capacity under contract and matching 185 data centers with 100% renewable energy. This reflects our commitment to build, power, and operate sustainable data centers, which is trusted and relied upon by more than 5,000 customers.”
Clean Energy Highlights
- Renewable Energy Procurement: Digital Realty achieved 75% of its global electricity needs from renewable sources in 2024, a 9% increase from 2023.
- Onsite Solar Installations: The company has installed 8.8 megawatts (MW) of solar power onsite.
- Global Coverage: Facilities in Europe, Sydney, Singapore, Texas, and New Jersey are now powered by 100% renewable energy.
2. Resource Conservation Initiatives
Digital Realty is not just focusing on energy but also on resource management. The company has made strides in conserving both electricity and water, demonstrating its commitment to responsible resource usage.
Energy Efficiency Achievements
- Digital Realty's energy conservation initiatives saved an estimated 42,400 megawatt hours (MWh) and reduced carbon emissions by 28,500 metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually.
- The company obtained U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR certification for 69% of its U.S. managed portfolio, leading the industry in the number of certifications.
Water Usage Management
- The company reported that 42% of its irrigation and cooling needs were met using non-potable water sources.
- It successfully reduced water usage intensity for its North American colocation portfolio by 14% year-over-year.
Adoption of Low-Carbon Fuels
Digital Realty is also expanding its use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO 100), a renewable diesel, across 30 global sites, which now covers 17% of its operating portfolio.
3. Commitment to Sustainable Building Practices
As a steward of over 300 properties worldwide, Digital Realty recognizes the importance of sustainable building practices. In 2024, the company certified eight global data centers, totaling 1.9 million square feet, under recognized green building standards such as LEED and BREEAM. With this, Digital Realty has now certified over 15 million square feet under green building standards.
4. Ensuring Resiliency Amidst Challenges
Digital Realty has established a strong reputation for reliability and resilience in the face of operational, security, weather, and climate-related events. The company’s operational excellence is bolstered by regular risk assessments and robust cybersecurity measures.
Aaron Binkley, Vice President of Sustainability at Digital Realty, stated, “The progress highlighted in our 2024 Impact Report was built on years of continued commitment to transitioning towards more sustainable operations. 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.”
5. Conclusion
Digital Realty Trust Inc.'s 2024 Impact Report underscores a transformative year for the company, marked by significant strides in sustainability and resource conservation. As the digital economy continues to expand, the company’s commitment to integrating sustainable practices positions it as a leader in the data center space, ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow while fostering a more responsible and resilient infrastructure.
With these advancements, Digital Realty is not just supporting its vast network of customers but also contributing to a more sustainable future for the data center industry as a whole.
