Commercial solar contractor Summit Ridge Energy is working with Digital Realty to deliver 5.1 MW of solar energy annually for the data center company’s operations. With this purchase, Digital Realty, which provides of cloud- and carrier-neutral data center solutions, will advance its sustainability objectives.
Credit: Summit Ridge Energy
This agreement includes both savings on energy costs and the purchase of renewable energy credits produced by three Summit Ridge-owned and operated commercial solar projects in Illinois. These projects are expected to be energized and interconnected with Commonwealth Edison by late 2025 to early 2026.
This partnership enables Digital Realty’s Northern Illinois-based data centers to offset a portion of their energy consumption. Additionally, the newly constructed solar projects will help enhance grid resilience across Illinois while supporting economic development through the creation of hundreds of construction and manufacturing jobs.
“At Digital Realty, we are committed to advancing sustainable energy solutions that align with our global carbon reduction goals,” said Aaron Binkley, VP of sustainability at Digital Realty. “Collaborating with Summit Ridge Energy supports our efforts to integrate more renewable energy into our operations while also contributing to a more resilient power grid in Illinois.”
These projects are part of a larger initiative by Summit Ridge to support enhanced grid stability through benefits like voltage support and frequency regulation, further strengthening the local electric system. The three distributed solar farms powering Digital Realty are part of Summit Ridge’s 439-MW Illinois fleet of solar asset.
“Digital Realty’s commitment to purchasing solar energy highlights the growing importance of leveraging alternative energy solutions in industries that depend on reliable power. With this agreement, we’re building a diversified, stronger grid while delivering tangible benefits to businesses,” said Marc Fioravanti, senior VP of business development at Summit Ridge. “This partnership illustrates that solar is playing an important role in the dramatic growth of the energy needs of technology companies, including those driven by AI and increased data processing.”
News item from Summit Ridge Energy
