Achieving net-zero targets by 2030 is no longer a distant aspiration, it’s an immediate imperative. Nowhere is this more evident than in South Africa’s rapidly expanding data centre industry.
A key challenge remains our heavy reliance on coal-fired power stations and diesel generators for energy security. Yet, despite these constraints, meaningful progress is being made to integrate sustainability at the very core of data centre design and operation.
Embedding sustainability from the ground up
Within our group of companies, we are leveraging frameworks like the Green Star SA (GSSA) rating system to benchmark and enhance the environmental performance of our facilities. This system evaluates developments across multiple categories, with Energy, Water, and Emissions carrying the greatest weight for data centres given their operational intensity.
By applying these standards in both construction and ongoing operations, sustainability is no longer treated as an afterthought, it becomes a design principle and an operational discipline.
Measuring what matters
Beyond certification, the real test of sustainability lies in operational performance. We track key efficiency metrics that directly reflect our environmental footprint:
These metrics aren’t just numbers, they represent our commitment to reducing environmental impact, increasing resilience, and aligning with global best practice.
Building toward net zero
By combining robust rating systems like GSSA with continuous operational monitoring, South Africa’s data centres can evolve into truly sustainable infrastructure assets.
The pathway forward is clear:
- Integrate renewables wherever possible,
- Prioritise water-wise cooling solutions,
- Design facilities with efficiency baked in, and
- Track performance relentlessly.
Through these steps, the industry can move closer to a net-zero future, proving that data centres can be both powerful and powerfully green.
What’s your perspective?
How do you see the balance between growth, reliability, and sustainability in South Africa’s data centre sector? We’d love to hear your thoughts, experiences, or examples of how your organisation is addressing these challenges.
