Scala Data Centers: Renewable diesel is ‘a fundamental piece in our vision of a sustainable future’

Scala Data Centers, a leading Latin American platform of sustainable data centers in the hyperscale market, announced May 20 the success of its proof of concept confirming the technical feasibility of using hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), also known as renewable or green diesel, in its Caterpillar backup generators.

Scala said this innovation, pioneering in Latin America, reinforces its leadership in adopting responsible and sustainable practices.

Derived from renewable sources like vegetable oils, renewable diesel undergoes a hydrotreatment process, transforming it into a high-quality fuel with reduced environmental impact.

Replacing fossil diesel with HVO can decrease greenhouse-gas emissions by up to 85 percent, consolidating Scala’s commitment to corporate sustainability.

During the proof of concept—conducted by Scala’s Center of Excellence in Engineering in collaboration with the operations team and Sotreq, Caterpillar’s dealer in Brazil—HVO demonstrated excellent performance in backup generators, maintaining critical resilience of data centers without requiring changes to existing equipment.

“The transition to HVO aligns perfectly with our strategy to ensure continuous and sustainable operations without compromising the quality and reliability our customers expect from us,” said Agostinho Villela, Scala’s chief technology officer.

Mauricio Garcia, the director of Sotreq’s power unit, added, “We closely monitored Scala’s test on Caterpillar equipment in a pioneering initiative in Latin America. The use of HVO in generators opens up a universe of possibilities, in addition to ensuring lower maintenance costs, preserving equipment and reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.”

While Scala said it has made significant strides in technical and environmental advancements, the company acknowledges the current economic challenges surrounding the implementation of HVO in its operations within the Latin American context, as it is three times more expensive than diesel, according to Scala.

“We closely monitor market trends, hoping to identify opportunities that could make the use of HVO economically viable on a larger scale,” Scala added. “By taking the lead in this endeavor, Scala positions itself as an industry pioneer and encourages broader market participation in the direction we advocate. We anticipate that movements like ours will raise awareness within the supply chain about the substantial demand potential for HVO, prompting stakeholders to explore more attractive commercial terms conducive to its widespread adoption. Our aim is to stimulate the industry to envision and realize the future benefits of sustainable-energy solutions.”

Christiana Weisshuhn, the company’s chief communications and sustainability officer, added, “Green diesel is more than an alternative to fossil diesel, it is a fundamental piece in our vision of a sustainable future. We look forward to beginning the transition to HVO as it becomes economically viable, continuing to lead by example in sustainable data-center management.”

Eugênio Cruz, Scala’s data-center operations vice president, said, “This proof of concept reinforces our unwavering commitment to providing excellent services to our customers, in an aspect that is fundamental to them. In addition to reducing emissions, green diesel offers additional advantages, as tank cleaning and rigorous quality controls, which are necessary when using current biodiesel, will no longer be required, ensuring high availability of our sites.”

Scala noted that, “When HVO enters commercial-scale utilization, the plan is to begin replacing the fuel in its tanks. This reinforces Scala’s leading position in the industry, spearheading the transition to cleaner-energy solutions and setting new standards for sustainability in the data-center sector. This remarkable advancement by Scala Data Centers sets new sustainability benchmarks in the data-center industry and signals a paradigm shift in global industrial practices.”

The company added that it has demonstrated cutting-edge technology and environmental responsibility can harmoniously coexist.

“With eyes set on the future, the company invites partners, customers and the global community to join in this transformative journey, marking a historic moment for Scala and the entire technology industry,” it stated.