Equinix has deployed a 1MW rooftop solar system on a data center in Melbourne, Australia.
The company has deployed the panels at its ME1 International Business Exchange (IBX) data center at 578 Lorimer Street, Port Melbourne.
Described as Equinix’s largest onsite rooftop solar PV system globally and ‘one of the largest data center rooftop solar deployments in Australia,’ the company has now completed the installation of rooftop solar systems at eight of its facilities, including Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney, collectively providing approximately 1.8MW of energy to local power grids.
Guy Danskine, managing director at Equinix Australia, said: “Deploying rooftop solar systems at our Australian data centers is an important step in our overarching strategy to help decarbonize the grid and foster a more sustainable future for data centers.”
He continued: “In Australia, we have invested millions of dollars in solar systems and have plans to expand this further. We are constantly exploring ways to deliver our digital infrastructure in the most sustainable way to address the surging digital needs of businesses and support the development of the country’s digital economy.”
Equinix launched ME1 in 2015, initially offering 375 racks and totaling 1,500 racks across more than 105,000 square feet (9,755 sqm) at full built-out. ME2 launched in 2020 and expanded in 2022. The company operates two other Melbourne sites – ME4 and ME5 – in the city.
The funding of this latest rooftop solar deployment in Melbourne was assisted by the Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates (VEECs), which are part of the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program. VEU allows households and businesses to receive rebates or discounts on energy-saving products such as solar panels.
Lily D’Ambrosio MP, Minister for Climate Action, for Energy and Resources and for the State Electricity Commission, said: “Data centers are energy intensive, but through the VEU program Equinix has been able to install a large-scale solar system that reduces their operating costs and helps to lower their emissions.
“Since 2009, the VEU has helped more than two million households and 150,000 businesses lower their energy bills and we look forward to saving them even more when we bring more options into the program soon.”
