UK data center operator DataVita has adopted hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) as fuel for the backup generators at its new facility in Glasgow, Scotland.

“Today marks a significant milestone, the first filling of our generators at our new data center in Glasgow city center. Importantly, we've opted for HVO as our fuel,” DataVita MD Danny Quinn said on LinkedIn this week.

“This eco-friendly alternative not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 percent compared to conventional fossil-based diesel, but it also emits fewer particulates and nitrogen oxides, contributing positively to air quality.”

HVO is a recently-developed low-emission biofuel that promises high performance without the need to replace or customize diesel gen-sets.

DataVita operates the the 4,000 sqm (43,00 sq ft) Fortis data center outside Glasgow, and last year announced plans for a second facility at 177 Bothwell Street.

The company is offering up to 130 racks worth of space on the newly developed 14-story, 313,000 sq ft (29,000 sqm) property billed as ‘Glasgow’s largest single office building.’ The site has two 2.5MW generators on the 15th floor.

A number of companies are looking to diesel alternatives as a way to reduce their carbon footprint and green their backup operations.

Amazon has adopted the fuel in Ireland and Sweden. UK operators Kao and Datum, the US' Compass, as well as Belgium's LCL, and Latvia’s DEAC, are all looking to adopt HVO as fuel for their backup generators.

Digital Realty's French unit has also adopted HVO for its new PAR8 site in Paris. The company is also deploying HVO in Madrid, Spain, and plans to expand its use across the continent in the near future. Pure is also an HVO user, while Equinix has said it is doing a trial with the fuel.

Kohler has swapped diesel for HVO at its Brest generator manufacturing plant in France, totaling some 325,000 liters.

Quinn also noted the company is adopting HVO at its Fortis facility.