Powering the Digital World: How SolarBank Aims to Energize Data Centres with Clean Power
March 12, 2025
By Megan Haley
In the era of AI, cloud computing, and real-time digital services, data centres have become the beating heart of the global economy. But with that growth comes an enormous demand for electricity—one that is rapidly outpacing traditional power sources. At SolarBank, we believe that the future of digital infrastructure must also be a clean one. That’s why we’re expanding our renewable energy solutions to help data centres across North America reduce emissions, increase resilience, and stay competitive in an energy-conscious world.
A Growing Energy Challenge
Data centres are among the most energy-intensive buildings on the planet. From powering endless rows of servers to keeping them cool around the clock, the energy demand is massive—and only growing. According to the International Energy Agency, global data centre electricity consumption could double by 2026, driven by AI training, digital storage, and real-time processing.
For operators, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity: how to meet rising demand while keeping costs down and satisfying sustainability goals.
A Solar-Powered Solution
That’s where SolarBank comes in. With deep experience in solar energy system design, battery storage, and grid integration, we’re uniquely positioned to help data centres transition to clean, stable, and cost-effective power sources.
Whether it’s through on-site solar arrays that offset peak demand or off-site renewable energy procurement strategies like Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), our team works directly with data centre operators to develop tailored solutions that align with their operational and environmental goals.
"We’re seeing a real shift in the data sector," says Ethan Leclerc, Director of Grid Strategy at SolarBank. "Operators are no longer asking whether they should go renewable—they’re asking how soon we can get them online."
Why Solar Makes Sense for Data Centres
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Stability and Predictability: Solar energy systems reduce reliance on volatile utility prices, especially when paired with battery storage for backup or load balancing.
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Sustainability Targets: Corporations are under increasing pressure from investors and clients to meet net-zero goals. SolarBank helps make those goals achievable with scalable, measurable impact.
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Location Flexibility: Our solutions work for urban edge data centres and rural hyperscale facilities alike, taking advantage of Canada and the U.S.’s strong solar potential.
Leading the Charge in Clean Digital Infrastructure
With over 100 MW of solar developed and a growing pipeline of energy storage and community solar projects, SolarBank is ready to support the next frontier of digital growth. Our expansion into serving data centres is a natural evolution of our mission: to build a cleaner, smarter, and more resilient energy future.
"We don’t just build solar projects—we build partnerships that power long-term success," says Darren Nguyen, VP of Engineering.
Ready to bring clean energy to your data operations?
Contact SolarBank today and let’s explore how renewable energy can support your growth—sustainably.
*Disclaimer: This article is entirely fictional and created for illustrative purposes only. It is not written, endorsed, or affiliated with SolarBank Corporation. Any quotes, statements, or attributions within this article are purely fictional and should not be associated with any real individuals or organizations.