Digital Realty Hits 93% Renewable Energy Coverage, Expands Sustainable Data Centers
Event summary
- Digital Realty achieved 93% global renewable energy coverage in 2025, up 18% YoY, with 205 sites matched to 100% renewable energy.
- The company certified 53% of its U.S. portfolio under the Energy Star program and maintained a global PUE of 1.38.
- Water usage effectiveness (WUE) improved by 15.7% YoY, with 45% of water supplied by non-potable resources.
- Six new data centers totaling 1.8M sq. ft. achieved sustainable building certifications in 2025.
The big picture
Digital Realty’s 2025 Impact Report underscores its leadership in sustainable data center operations, a critical differentiator as AI and cloud computing drive demand. With 300+ facilities globally, its ability to balance growth with ESG commitments will shape its competitive positioning in an increasingly regulated sector. The report also highlights the growing importance of water stewardship, a lesser-discussed but critical sustainability challenge for data center operators.
What we're watching
- Renewable Energy Scaling
- Whether Digital Realty can sustain its 18% YoY growth in renewable energy coverage amid rising global demand for data center capacity.
- Operational Efficiency
- How the company’s PUE improvements will impact margins as it expands into higher-cost markets.
- Regulatory Compliance
- The pace at which stricter ESG regulations will force competitors to match Digital Realty’s sustainability benchmarks.
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