How an Equinix Strategy Boosts Data Centre Sustainability
Equinix advances sustainability through its Future First strategy, reinforcing its commitment to responsible growth across global data centre operations.
In a world increasingly powered by the internet, Equinix highlights how renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydroelectric power are vital for digital technologies.
The American multinational company, specialising in internet connectivity and colocation centres — also known as carrier hotels — continues to lead efforts in environmental stewardship within the data centre sector.
Equinix’s work throughout 2024 demonstrates its long-term dedication to reducing environmental impact while delivering efficient digital infrastructure solutions.
Renewable energy and data centre innovations
In 2024, Equinix reached a 96% renewable energy coverage across its global data centre portfolio, achieving this milestone for the seventh consecutive year with coverage exceeding 90%.
This level of renewable energy usage cements Equinix’s reputation among industry leaders focused on operational sustainability in the data centre space.
Equinix secures 370MW of new power purchase agreements (PPAs) during the year, marking its first such agreements in the Asia-Pacific region.
These agreements propel the company's ambition toward 100% clean and renewable energy for its operations.
The company’s eligible green projects align with its 2024 Green Finance Framework, structured around the Green Bond Principles (June 2021) and the Green Loan Principles (February 2023).
These projects span across green building development, renewable energy solutions, enhanced energy efficiency measures, resource conservation and broad decarbonisation efforts.
Adaire Fox-Martin, CEO and President of Equinix, explains: “We believe in a future where technology drives sustainable growth. Future First is our commitment to sustainability as we deliver digital infrastructure that fosters positive change through secure and efficient solutions.”
“In 2024, we remained true to our commitments around sustainability and operational excellence, delivering greater than five nines of uptime for our customers and improving our power usage effectiveness by more than 6%.
“We also achieved our seventh consecutive year of greater than 90% renewable energy coverage and executed 370 megawatts of new power purchase agreements (PPAs).”
Driving efficiency and reducing emissions across data centres
Equinix achieves a 10% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions compared to its 2019 baseline.
This forms a central component of its Future First strategy as the company works to create sustainable digital ecosystems through its data centres.
Throughout 2024, Equinix also improves its global annual average power usage effectiveness (PUE) to 1.39, marking a 6% improvement from 2023.
In parallel, its water usage effectiveness (WUE) across the data centre portfolio stands at 0.95, reinforcing its commitment to efficient resource management.
Equinix makes strategic investments of $51m into energy efficiency measures and boosts community heat export projects by 245% compared to the previous year, returning 14.5 GWh of heat to local communities.
Recognition of these efforts includes Equinix’s inclusion in CDP’s Climate Change A List for the second consecutive year, a position awarded to less than 2% of more than 23,000 companies disclosing environmental data globally.
Katrina Rymill, SVP Corporate Finance & Sustainability, Equinix, explains: "We view green finance as an integral part of our sustainability strategy at Equinix.
"Our green bonds demonstrate Equinix's continued commitment to design, build and deliver the most reliable, secure and sustainable data centre and digital infrastructure possible in order to benefit our customers, our investors and the communities in which we operate."
Sustaining growth through social impact and governance
While environmental goals remain central, Equinix’s Future First strategy also addresses social responsibility and governance.
The company takes active steps to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusivity within its workforce by partnering with organisations including Generation, Skillsbridge and Disability:IN.
This holistic approach strengthens Equinix’s operational DNA by integrating frameworks such as the Green Bond Principles and committing to continuous innovation in energy and water efficiency.
As the demands from cloud computing and artificial intelligence continue to rise, Equinix stands ready to meet global digital infrastructure needs sustainably, creating positive outcomes for customers, communities and the planet.
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