nLighten’s Carbon-Free Energy commitment
The 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) Compact, in the context of data centers, is an initiative aimed at ensuring data centers operate on carbon-free energy sources at all times, around the clock. This is directly linked to a range of legislations including the EU Green Deal, the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) and the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED).
nLighten’s goal is to innovate on the 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy concept by providing full transparency on our decarbonisation efforts with the use of sector coupling and advanced energy practices in procurement, supply and policy.
In collaboration with Eni Enrico Mattei Foundation (FEEM), we have conducted a study which presents nLighten’s proposed extension to the established 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy concept and focuses on the measurement and reporting of the group’s energy operations.
1
Holistic ‘Sector Coupling’:
- Integrating waste heat recovery and use within the local community.
- Including sustainability metrics to measure community impact.
2
Energy Perimeter Expansion:
- Extending beyond carbon-free electricity (CFEl) to include carbon-free heat (CFEH).
- Encompassing both energy production and consumption of data centers.
3
CFE Indicator:
- Starting with the established Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) indicator for electricity but expanding this to a broader “unit of analysis” covering both electricity and heat.
nLighten approach
Energy
Integrated Carbon-Free Energy Score (ICFEn)
Electricity
consumption Carbon-Free Electricity Score
(cCFEI)
Heat
production Carbon-Free Heat Score
(pCFEH)
Other approaches
Energy
Electricity
Carbon-Free Energy Score
(CFE)
Heat
Figure S1. Differences in scores perimeters. Source: nLighten – FEEM elaboration, 2023
To find out more about nLighten’s approach to Carbon-Free Energy, download the study below.