Vantage Data Centers (VDC), a US-based global provider of hyper-scale data center campuses, has entered into an agreement with SolarAfrica, a leading financier of solar energy projects in South Africa. Vantage has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) that will enable the company to supplement the local grid that powers its Johannesburg (JNB1) data center campus, which is scheduled to open in July and will run with renewable energy.
Additionally, the new deal will further drive the development of solar energy in the Northern Cape region by supporting the expansion of SolarAfrica’s De Aar solar project. Vantage’s investment will help in the production of solar energy of 87 MWp capacity within SolarAfrica’s larger solar farm.
The solar energy farm is expected to reduce CO2 emissions in the region by an additional 3.8 million tons over the lifetime of the project agreement. After the completion of the farm, it is expected to supply 33% of the energy requirement of Vantage’s JNB1 data center campus, which will have 80 MW of IT capacity.
Justin Jenkins, Chief Operating Officer of EMEA and President of the U.K. for Vantage Data Centers, said, the investment in the De Aar solar project reaffirms Vantage’s continued commitment to sustainability and support the country to reach net-zero by 2030. The energy from this investment will not only power Johannesburg’s data center but also serve as a perfect example of using solar energy across the data center industry.
Charl Alheit, SolarAfrica’s Director, commented “We are continually driven to assist our customers in reaching their green energy goals while saving them money in the process. The rollout of the 87 MWp solar farm for Vantage’s campus, which will be one of the largest in South Africa, is an exciting step for us as we gear up to help even more businesses save with cheaper, cleaner energy through wheeling.”
The new PPA agreement is a crucial step in Vantage’s long-term commitment to sustainability. Last year, Vantage announced it would achieve net-zero carbon emissions globally by 2030, setting a significant milestone in its operation to increase its efficiencies and reduce environmental impacts at its hyper-scale data center campuses all over the world.
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