Facebook Signs Virtual PPA for 80 MW of Solar Power

Under the agreement, Digital Realty has executed a long-term renewable power purchase contract to secure approximately 80 MW of solar power capacity for Facebook to power its Virginia Data Center.

Digital Realty, a leading global provider of data center, colocation and interconnection solutions, has announced the signing of a virtual power purchase agreement on behalf of Facebook, Inc., to support Facebook’s renewable energy goals at data center facilities leased from Digital Realty in Virginia.

Under the agreement, Digital Realty has executed a long-term renewable power purchase contract to secure approximately 80 MW of solar power capacity for Facebook to power its Virginia Data Center.

Digital Realty contracted with SunEnergy1, which has developed and will own and operate the solar project, to be located within Virginia Electric and Power Company territory in North Carolina. Under the terms of the agreement, all renewable energy certificates and environmental claims will be delivered to Facebook. 

“Facebook is committed to supporting all of its operations with 100% renewable energy and to improving overall access to renewable markets,” said Bobby Hollis, Director of Global Energy and Site Selection at Facebook. “We are thrilled Digital Realty has entered into this agreement and hope this will serve as a model for other colocation customers seeking to support their operations with high-quality, renewable energy projects.”

This agreement marks the first back-to-back utility-scale renewable energy transaction between a data center provider landlord utilising a virtual power purchase agreement to underpin the renewable energy supply dedicated to a customer. 

“Our scale and position as a leader in data center sustainability enabled us to execute this first of its kind agreement in support of Facebook’s sustainability goals,” said Digital Realty Chief Executive Officer A. William Stein. “We were able to take Facebook’s quality standards and timeline into consideration and deliver this solution in a competitive marketplace and at a competitive price. We are very pleased to be part of the solution enabling Facebook to achieve its renewable energy goals.”

Digital Realty worked in partnership with Facebook to structure the transaction to align with Facebook’s quality standards for new renewable energy projects within the same power grid as the data center load.