Data-center provider leverages renewable diesel to reduce emissions

Compass Datacenters announced June 1 a new partnership with Foster Fuels, making Compass the first data-center provider to use hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), also known as renewable diesel, to fuel its on-site generators, according to Compass. Foster Fuels will serve as Compass’ preferred green-diesel provider, reaffirming both organizations’ commitment to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction.

“The Foster Fuels partnership is part of our overall strategy to reduce our scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions and will make our generators far more sustainable,” said Adil Attlassy, Compass chief technology officer. “Based on our results to date, using HVO blended fuels is reducing our generators’ scope 1 GHG emissions by approximately 85 percent versus traditional diesel. Additionally, we are significantly reducing particulates and sulfides as compared to fossil fuels, eliminating diesel’s dirty smoke plume.”

Watt R. Foster Jr., Foster Fuels’ president and CEO, said, “We’re very excited to help companies achieve their sustainability goals with alternative fuels like HVO. Foster Fuels has been a longtime Compass partner and this sustainability initiative is a result of close collaboration between our teams to address an important issue. The initial rollout involves Compass’ facilities in Northern Virginia, Arizona and Texas. Our ultimate goal is to make HVO renewable diesel fuel available throughout the U.S.”

Nancy Novak, chief innovation officer with Compass, said, “Our decision to adopt HVO-based [fuel] for generators is consistent with our previous efforts, such as CarbonCure concrete. Both are focused on GHG reduction. A truly holistic approach to sustainability includes power sources, but also needs to include the facility’s design, the materials used, water usage, the supply chain and much more. Backup power needs to be part of the sustainability strategy, and Foster Fuels is providing us with an innovative, scalable solution that we expect will become an industry standard.”