Built for tomorrow: Vertiv’s approach to environmentally responsible infrastructure

Data center rack densities are soaring past 100 kilowatts (kW), and the industry's energy consumption, currently at 1.5%, is set to double by 2030. As Martin Olsen, VP of Global Product Strategy at Vertiv, highlighted in a "Powering the AI Revolution " panel discussion at NVIDIA GTC 2025: "Historically, power distribution, cooling, structural support, have all been designed around predictable incremental increases in compute density. Now, with accelerated workloads, that just drives this compute density at an unprecedented pace." This shift isn't just technical-it's existential. Energy is both fuel and friction point for AI. Infrastructure must keep up or be left behind.

Vertiv sees energy not as a constraint, but as an opportunity to lead. Regulations like the EU Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact and the U.S. Clean Energy Act are setting the baseline. But compliance isn't the primary goal. Vertiv believes environmental responsibility must be embedded from the foundation up. That's why Earth Day 2025's theme Our Power, Our Planet resonates. The call to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 aligns with the company's own trajectory: designing infrastructure that drives progress while reducing impact. From smarter grids to efficient builds, Vertiv is engineering data centers that do more with less.

Building AI-ready, eco-responsible infrastructure

Building on the One Vertiv One World plan-the company's framework for addressing environmental challenges head-on-Vertiv is developing solutions that directly tackle the energy paradox facing modern data centers: how to support exponential AI growth while reducing environmental impact. The key is treating energy not just as a cost, but as a strategic asset that can be optimized across generation, storage, and consumption.

Transforming power sourcing

The race to energy-efficient data centers starts with reimagining energy infrastructure-moving beyond fossil fuels to alternative sources. Grid constraints and emissions regulations no longer mean sacrificing reliability. Vertiv is accelerating this shift with tangible innovations that replace diesel-dependent systems.

Vertiv is putting its strategy into action with real deployments. In partnership with Ballard Power Systems, the company developed the Vertiv™ Power Module H2-a hydrogen fuel cell system that delivers 3000 kW of backup power with zero onsite emissions. It's already supporting data centers in grid-constrained regions, cutting Scope 1 emissions while maintaining uptime.

Pioneering always-on microgrid solutions

The future of energy goes beyond backup-it's always-on and optimized. That's why Vertiv is leading microgrid solutions that integrate distributed energy resources (DERs), battery energy storage systems (BESS) (see Figure 1), and intelligent monitoring into a cohesive system.

Figure 1. The Vertiv™ Dynaflex BESS, a key part of a key part of microgrid systems, stores energy for later use, reducing generator starts.

In Vertiv Customer Experience Centers (CEC) across the US and Europe, operators see firsthand how these systems maintain reliability while reducing grid dependence - with real equipment supporting actual AI workloads during stress tests.

Promoting carbon efficiency

Energy efficiency doesn't stop at the server room. The Vertiv™ TimberMod™ represents a fundamental rethinking of construction materials, using engineered timber to cut embodied carbon by 60% compared to traditional steel builds. When deployed at scale, these innovations compound: more efficient buildings housing more efficient equipment, all monitored and optimized through systems designed for circularity from the start.

Reducing energy and carbon footprints with solar power

Vertiv strives to upgrade facilities and processes to reduce energy consumption, carbon output, and material waste. At the Nove Mesto facility in Slovakia, the company installed a 516.56 kilowatt peak (kWp) solar panel array covering over 2,200 square meters (m²). This installation is expected to deliver the following results:

The battery storage on the Nove Mesto campus stores surplus energy produced during peak solar generation and releases it when needed. The PV installation (see Figure 2) is connected to the utility grid to manage excess energy production.

Figure 2 . Overhead shot of the pv installation at the Vertiv Nove Mesto office in Slovakia. This system reduces reliance on grid power across the company's global facilities. The array demonstrates how industrial spaces can effectively harness alternative energy.

What's next: One Vertiv, One World: 2024 Responsible Business Report

The AI revolution presents an unprecedented challenge: advancing computing capabilities while respecting environmental resources. Achieving this requires embedding energy efficiency throughout the critical digital infrastructure design. The "One Vertiv, One World: Responsible Business Report" reflects how these strategies are put into action. It also reflects how Vertiv lives its commitment to environmental responsibility-through the choices it makes, the way it operates, the solutions it builds, and the partners it works with.

Ready to transform your data center's energy use? Contact a Vertiv expert today.