Digital Realty Reports 93% Renewable Coverage and 1.38 Global PUE
DLR•Digital Realty achieved 93% global renewable energy coverage in 2025, up 18% year-over-year, matching 205 sites with 100% emissions-free power and contracting 1.7 GW of renewable capacity. The report also highlights a global PUE of 1.38, 53% of U.S. capacity Energy Star–certified and 45% non-potable water use.
1. Renewable Energy Achievements
Digital Realty expanded global renewable energy coverage to 93% in 2025, an 18% improvement from the prior year, by contracting 1.7 GW of large-scale capacity and matching 205 sites with 100% emissions-free power. The company also launched over ten waste-heat projects and secured carbon neutral certification for Denmark, France, Netherlands and Sweden, covering 42% of its European IT capacity.
2. Operational Efficiency Metrics
The company certified 53% of its U.S. portfolio under Energy Star for managed IT capacity and published a global Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.38, including an EMEA PUE of 1.31. These metrics reflect ongoing efforts to optimize energy consumption across diverse markets and facility designs.
3. Water Stewardship and Sustainable Design
Water usage increased just 3% from 2023 despite a 34% portfolio expansion, delivering a 0.59 Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) and 45% non-potable water sourcing. Six new data centers totaling 1.8 million square feet and 196 MW-IT earned sustainable building certifications with an average design PUE of 1.20, bringing the total to 17.8 million square feet and 1.5 GW-IT under certified standards.
4. Community Engagement and Talent Development
Digital Realty’s early career initiatives in Europe and Africa combined apprenticeships and internships, resulting in over 40 participants securing permanent roles. Through a partnership with Northern Virginia Community College’s Datacenter Operations program, 53 interns have transitioned to full-time positions since 2022, strengthening the data center workforce pipeline.
