Edison Facility Will Boast Largest US Rooftop Solar Installation
The 7.2 MW-rated solar installation at Iron Mountain's data center in Edison (NJE-1) is forecast to generate more than 9 Million KWhrs per year, which is enough electricity to power more than 1,000 homes for a year.
EDISON, NJ—Storage and information management firm Iron Mountain Inc. of Boston reports it has closed on its largest on-site solar power-purchase agreement contract to date.
The 7.2 MW-rated solar installation at Iron Mountain‘s data center in Edison (NJE-1) is forecast to generate more than 9 Million KWhrs per year, which is enough electricity to power more than 1,000 homes for a year. The solar installation will provide approximately 15% of the data center’s current energy load.
Developed in collaboration with a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources of Juno Beach, FL, a leading clean energy company with approximately 21,000 MW of net generating capacity, and Black Bear Energy of Boulder, CO, which facilitated the project acting as the owner’s representative to Iron Mountain, the project is slated for completion at the end of 2019. Iron Mountain states the completed project will be the largest rooftop solar installation of any data center in the US.
“The on-site solar Power Purchase Agreement will be added to a portfolio of renewable energy contracts that already cover 100% of Iron Mountain’s worldwide data center operations,” says Kevin Hagen, VP environment, social & governance strategy at Iron Mountain. “It’s part of Iron Mountain’s mission to obtain local, reliable, cost effective, 24/7 renewable energy solutions to meet the company’s RE100 goal of 100% renewable electricity for global operations.”
The Edison data center building was once a printing facility for the New York Times.
“We are honored to have been selected to partner with Iron Mountain to help them meet their renewable energy goals,” said Matt Ulman, executive director of distributed generation for NextEra Energy Resources. “Iron Mountain is a model of how solar energy can help companies achieve their sustainability goals while creating significant savings. This landmark project is fully developed and in construction, and we’re looking forward to seeing it commissioned and operating.”
“This project has positive planetary and financial impact and will continue to deliver for two decades to come,” said Drew Torbin, CEO, Black Bear Energy. “We are energized to work with such a leading company like Iron Mountain.”
Iron Mountain’s Edison data center is one of 14 operational facilities across 13 markets and three continents. Including leasable capacity and land and buildings held for future development, Iron Mountain’s data center platform can support more than 350 megawatts of IT capacity at full build-out.