Distributed Generation, Solar, Wind  -  January 20, 2016

Skybox Datacenters teams with NRG on renewable powered facility

Skybox Datacenters is one of the latest datacenter companies to jump into the renewable energy pool. The company will use a combination of onsite solar and a long-term wind power purchase agreement to provide clean energy to one of its Houston facilities.

The facility, Skybox Houston One, is a 96,129 square-foot purpose-built datacenter located in the fast-growing energy corridor of Houston. Skybox Datacenters worked closely with independent power producer NRG Energy to develop and accommodate each unique requirement to deliver a solution for NRG’s customized data hall. NRG signed a long-term lease for a unique private data hall in the datacenter, and has secured a multiyear wind electricity contract to support Skybox's efforts to operate a 100% green energy datacenter, according to a news release. 

Skybox will use the renewable energy generated from NRG-owned solar arrays on the front berm and carport to support the facility's highly secure on-site office space.

"Our work with Skybox not only serves our immediate business needs, but is a showcase for other datacenter prospects who are looking to diversify energy solutions that power their datacenter needs," Donna Benefield, senior vice president of information technology at NRG Energy said in the release. "While today's trends in datacenters focused on purely renewable powered options, the reality is that cost and reliability still play an important role in protecting mission critical data and infrastructure needs in running a business. We hope that our example serves to educate other prospects about the variety of renewable options available to them in the market today."

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