4일 디지털 인프라 기업 에퀴닉스(Equinix)는 ESG 분야 목표 달성을 위한 성과를 담은 2023 지속가능성 보고서를 발표하고, 기자와의 그룹 인터뷰를 개최했다.
▲Equinix CEO Jang Hye-deok
2023 Sustainability Report Released
Currently achieving 96% renewable energy coverage
Improving data center efficiency with liquid cooling and more
As global carbon emissions regulations expand to a full life cycle assessment perspective, Equinix claims that deploying its sustainable data centers will help it achieve its Scope 3 carbon reduction goals.
'Scope 3' refers to external carbon emissions that occur in the logistics supply chain and with partners, in addition to emissions generated during direct product production (Scope 1) and indirect emissions at the workplace (Scope 2).
On the 4th, digital infrastructure company Equinix released its 2023 Sustainability Report containing its progress toward achieving ESG goals and held a group interview with reporters.
With the recent explosive demand for generative AI, the data center industry is increasingly required to provide high performance while satisfying environmental, governance, and social sustainability. According to the report, by 2023, Korea will use fossil fuels for 62% of its electricity, making it the country with the second highest carbon emissions per capita among the G20.
Accordingly, the government implemented the 2024 Circular Economy and Society Transition Promotion Act and made ESG disclosure mandatory for KOSPI-listed companies with total assets of KRW 2 trillion or more starting in 2025. Accordingly, domestic companies are taking the lead in voluntarily introducing eco-friendly technologies.
Equinix argued that when reducing Scope 3 for sustainability reporting obligations, emphasizing cooperation with specialized companies can quickly achieve ESG standards. Equinix CEO Jang Hye-deok said, “Recently, ESG management has become a major indicator for companies. If domestic companies adopt Equinix as a partner in the supply chain when they are required to report sustainability in the future, we will be able to help them achieve their carbon emission reduction goals, including Scope 3.”
In addition, he said, "Equinix is continuously increasing the capacity of its data centers, including SL4, which opened in January, and is building eco-friendly systems by introducing renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, bio, and geothermal power, as well as liquid cooling technology, and is providing power reports to customers." Currently, Equinix counts Oracle and Salesforce as its customers.
In particular, Equinix has expressed its ambition to achieve 100% renewable energy coverage by 2030. As of 2023, Equinix has achieved 96% renewable energy coverage and reduced its Scope 1 and Scope 2 operational emissions by 24% as of 2019. This was achieved by signing a 'Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)' in Europe to achieve a coverage of more than 1GW or approximately 25% and is supplementing it by purchasing 'RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates).' It also increased the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) by 8.8% year-on-year to 1.42.
Equinix is pursuing efficiency from the design stage to the operation of data centers. It is establishing certification goals for various sustainability frameworks including RE100 and is continuously quantifying and reducing carbon emissions from raw materials. It will reduce carbon emissions by introducing the 'hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO)' method instead of diesel fuel. Equinix said, "We have invested more than KRW 3 trillion in CAPEX costs over the past two years."
In addition, data center cooling methods are adopted differently by each country. For example, in countries with water shortages, high-efficiency air cooling methods are adopted, and when servers are directly integrated with high density for AI computing, chips are miniaturized and high-density technology based on liquid cooling technology is installed.
Meanwhile, Equinix is investing in awareness raising as well as the operation of sustainable data centers. Recently, there have been frequent cases of friction with local residents during construction due to radio problems arising from data centers.
Regarding this, Jang explained, "It is important to inform people about the role of data centers as social infrastructure." For example, the Equinix Center in Europe is solving complaints about cooling noise or light in data centers in urban areas by adopting noise-blocking systems and designs that blend in with surrounding buildings.
“Equinix is not only gradually increasing the application of renewable energy, but is also exploring ways to contribute to the community by utilizing the heat from data centers, such as reducing heating costs,” Jang added. “We will eliminate negative perceptions by making data centers helpful to the local community.”