nLighten: Traceable Green Power in French Data Centres

nLighten puts traceable, carbon-free power at the centre of its operations in France with a new renewable energy supply deal. 

The company confirms that all of its French data centre sites will be covered under this updated power procurement arrangement, set to begin on 1 January 2026.

This new deal reflects a wider European strategy for the data centre operator, aiming to build more accountable and transparent renewable energy use. 

Instead of relying on annual certificates or broad national energy figures, the company now links its power consumption to individual renewable assets.

Francesco Marasco, Vice President of Energy Operations & Sustainability at nLighten, says: "This partnership represents an opportunity to fundamentally change how we approach energy procurement in France. 

“While France's grid already benefits from significant carbon-free nuclear generation, this agreement puts us in the driving seat in terms of knowing exactly where our renewable energy comes from. 

“It helps us maintain transparency and control over our energy sourcing, protecting us from potential changes in grid composition."

A supply model built on hourly traceability

The agreement follows a three-party model and involves Switzerland-based Axpo, the country’s largest electricity producer, alongside an independent power producer (IPP). 

Under this structure, Axpo handles the main electricity supply to nLighten’s French data centres while also managing the renewable generation from the IPP’s wind portfolio. This renewable output is then allocated directly to nLighten.

This model ensures two things: constant power availability for data centre operations, even when wind supply dips and dedicated renewable energy tracking from specific assets. 

Axpo can supplement the power from other sources when required, guaranteeing uptime, while the IPP tracks wind power output in real time.

By integrating this level of traceability, nLighten can match electricity usage with green generation on an hourly basis. This method goes beyond traditional approaches, which typically rely on average grid data or retrospective renewable energy certificate purchases that are calculated on a yearly basis.

The shift allows data centre operators like nLighten to make more accurate claims about their environmental performance. 

For customers concerned about sustainable operations, asset-specific and time-linked energy matching provides stronger evidence of actual renewable use.

New for France, but proven elsewhere

The supply model nLighten adopts is already established in other European energy markets. Countries like the UK and Germany support similar flexible energy procurement structures that combine base load power with traceable renewable inputs.

In France, however, this approach still stands out. While nuclear energy forms a large part of the national energy mix, agreements that track renewable power by the hour from specific wind farms remain limited.

Matthieu Espinas, Senior Originator at Axpo, says: "We're proud to support nLighten's ambitious sustainability goals through this innovative supply model. 

“By combining the reliability of traditional energy supply with transparent renewable generation tracking, we're helping to bring new levels of accountability to the French data centre market. 

"This partnership demonstrates that flexible, transparent energy solutions are not only possible but also commercially viable in France."

The integration of this model in the French market not only brings a higher level of visibility into the origins of nLighten’s power but also contributes to a broader shift in how energy transparency can operate within critical infrastructure like data centres.

Expanding a pan-European framework

nLighten’s latest move in France fits into a larger European procurement strategy. The company already runs similar agreements with Shell in Spain and Conrad Energy in the UK. 

Each of these partnerships follows the same central concept of granular, asset-linked renewable tracking, adjusted according to each country’s regulatory environment and market setup.

Rather than depend on less detailed annual tracking systems, nLighten’s portfolio approach supports direct links to specific renewable sources, promoting consistency and accountability across borders.

By implementing this strategy across its network, nLighten not only aligns with stricter internal sustainability goals but also pushes the European data centre sector toward more transparent and verifiable power sourcing practices.

The French agreement becomes a practical example of how a data centre operator can restructure energy procurement to better match both environmental expectations and operational demands. 

Through consistent partnerships and real-time tracking tools, nLighten maintains a clear view of its energy use and its environmental impact.