IT & Tech 12.04.2026

6 min read

Improving efficiency, energy demand, and sustainability have always been of immense importance for data center operations-and remain so today. The synaforce data center in Hofkirchen, Lower Bavaria, is a pioneer in sustainability. This state-of-the-art facility consistently relies on sustainable, zero-emission solutions and sources 100 percent renewable electricity for its infrastructure.

What is Datacenter?

Datacenter is a concrete priority for companies in 2026 because it directly shapes scalable data center capacity, energy efficiency and compliance. This article uses synaforce as an example to show which requirements, figures and operational steps matter in practice.

The Most Important Points in Brief

100 Percent Green Electricity as the Foundation

Under Germany’s Renewable Energy Act (EEG), synaforce generates a significant portion of its data center’s electricity needs using its own photovoltaic systems, actively supporting the country’s energy transition. In addition to its existing on-site sustainable power generation, synaforce has been sourcing all purchased electricity for its data center exclusively from renewable energy sources since January 2023. This step represents another milestone in the company’s sustainability strategy and underscores synaforce’s commitment to climate protection.

“We operate our data center entirely on green electricity. Our data centers have maintained a very high level of energy efficiency (PUE below 1.1) since their inception. Over the past year, we further optimized this efficiency through advanced measurement and building automation technologies. An expansion of our photovoltaic installations now covers 25 percent of our total energy requirements. Since early 2023, the remaining energy needs have been met 100 percent by renewables. These measures not only help us optimize our data center operating costs but also make a substantial contribution to sustainability and emissions reduction. An energy audit conducted in December 2022 and successfully passed under DIN EN 16274-1 officially validated our energy-saving efforts.”
– Peter Hartl, CEO of synaforce

Responsibility as a High-End Data Center Provider

As a high-end data center solutions provider, synaforce acknowledges its responsibility to protect our planet. The goal has always been and remains to minimize environmental impact and make a measurable contribution to reducing CO2 emissions. By fully transitioning to renewable energy and operating in a certified climate-neutral manner, synaforce is setting an important example for a sustainable future.

“In addition, we utilize highly efficient cooling and UPS systems at our other locations as well, allowing us to reduce our energy consumption to a minimum. Through these and many other measures, we currently achieve a PUE value (a metric for data center energy efficiency) of under 1.1, which places us among the most energy-efficient data centers worldwide alongside a handful of like-minded peers,” adds synaforce CTO Tobias Lehner.

“To continue reducing our carbon footprint and having a positive impact on the environment, synaforce will continue to implement innovative solutions and technologies to achieve its sustainability goals and continuously optimize energy efficiency. We assure you that this is not the end of our efforts toward a carbon-neutral data center,” Lehner further states.

PUE Value in the Industry Context

Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) is the key metric for data center energy efficiency. It represents the ratio of a data center’s total energy consumption to its IT equipment energy consumption. The closer the value is to 1.0, the more efficiently the supplied energy is actually used for computing power. Any figure above 1.0 indicates overhead for cooling, UPS systems, and lighting.

According to the Uptime Institute Global Data Center Survey, the industry average has recently been around 1.58 to 1.7. Even the major hyperscale providers typically achieve values between 1.1 and 1.2. synaforce, with a PUE below 1.1, falls into the same efficiency category as Google, Meta, or Microsoft-yet it operates as a mid-sized German provider. For customers, this means two things: lower variable energy costs compared to standard hosting models, and an improved carbon footprint in their own Scope-3 reporting, which companies subject to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) have been required to disclose since 2024.

Photovoltaics and Electricity Procurement: The Hybrid Strategy

The combination of on-site generation and certified green electricity procurement is a pragmatic approach to achieving a 100 percent renewable energy quota without being entirely reliant on self-generation. On-site photovoltaic systems cover 25 percent of total energy demand, while the remaining portion is sourced through supply contracts with proof of origin. This strategy ensures reliable power supply even during winter months with low solar irradiance and during peak load periods.

This approach is scalable. Additional photovoltaic capacity, potential wind energy projects, or Power Purchase Agreements with regional producers can increase the self-supply share over time. Particularly for data centers located in rural areas such as Hofkirchen, this creates opportunities for collaboration with agricultural businesses or municipal utilities that are seeking a long-term, stable off-take base for their own renewable energy installations.

Cooling Technology and Building Automation as Levers for Efficiency

Attributing a low PUE solely to the procurement of green electricity falls short. The real efficiency gains come from cooling and building automation technologies. Modern free-cooling systems directly use outside air during cooler months to cool servers, eliminating the need to activate energy-intensive compressor-based cooling. Adiabatic cooling methods reduce water consumption compared with conventional evaporative cooling. High-efficiency UPS systems minimize conversion losses on the power supply side.

Metering and building automation technology measures every kilowatt-hour separately-by IT load, cooling, UPS, lighting, and infrastructure. This level of transparency is essential for continuous optimization. Without granular metering, PUE optimization remains speculative. With detailed measurement points, inefficient subsystems can be identified and targeted improvements implemented before they significantly impact the overall balance.

What This Means for Customers

For customers who operate their IT infrastructure in a synaforce data center, several advantages arise. First is the direct climate impact: Each hour of computing time is attributed with significantly less CO2 emissions than in data centers with typical PUE values and standard electricity mixes. Second is regulatory traceability for CSRD, the EU Taxonomy, and industry-specific sustainability reports. Proof is provided through documented certificates of origin, PUE reports, and audit confirmations.

Third is economic protection against rising energy and CO2 prices. Electricity generated on-site and sourced from long-term green power contracts is less susceptible to price spikes compared to conventional grid electricity. For hosting customers, this translates into more predictable costs over multi-year contract periods. Fourth is a competitive edge in public procurement tenders, where sustainability criteria are increasingly used as award factors. Municipalities, government agencies, and public-sector institutions prioritize data centers with documented climate footprints.

Outlook: What’s Next

synaforce’s sustainability strategy is not a final state, but an ongoing process. The upcoming expansion of data center capacity will be planned in parallel with the increase in on-site energy generation. New heat recovery concepts, where server waste heat is utilized for municipal district heating networks or commercial customers, are technically feasible and are increasingly being discussed across the industry. Such coupling models significantly enhance overall efficiency beyond the pure PUE value.

For the German market, synaforce serves as an example of how mid-sized providers can keep pace with hyperscalers in the sustainability debate. What matters most are documented key performance indicators, transparent evidence, and a commitment to continuously invest in efficiency measures. It is precisely this combination that will determine in the coming years which data centers secure contracts from regulated industries and which, lacking climate certifications, will face growing pressure in the market.

Regulatory Framework: CSRD, EU Taxonomy, and EEDS

The sustainability requirements for data centers do not arise in a vacuum. Several EU regulations are simultaneously driving this agenda forward. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) obligates large and medium-sized companies to provide structured reporting on environmental, social, and governance aspects. Scope 3 emissions are part of this reporting, which includes data center emissions from the IT service providers they use.

The EU Taxonomy defines which economic activities qualify as sustainable. For data center operations, this means specific thresholds for PUE, water consumption, and the origin of energy. The Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), as implemented in Germany through the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG), requires larger data centers to publish energy performance indicators and adhere to minimum efficiency standards. Operators who cannot meet these requirements today risk short-term competitive disadvantages and, in the medium term, sanctions or revocation of licenses for certain customer segments.

What German SMEs Stand to Gain

For medium-sized businesses in Germany, a data center like the one operated by synaforce offers a predictable and cost-conscious way to implement their digitalization projects in an environmentally sustainable manner. Moving workloads to a PUE-efficient, green-powered data center not only reduces the direct CO2 emissions of an organization’s IT infrastructure but also significantly cuts down on documentation and audit requirements under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and industry-specific sustainability standards.

At the same time, it provides a level of geographic proximity that many international cloud providers cannot match. German legal frameworks, short travel distances for audits, German-language support, and GDPR-compliant data processing are often non-negotiable prerequisites for regulated sectors such as financial services, healthcare, and the public sector. This combination of high efficiency and regional anchoring thus represents a uniquely German competitive advantage that delivers benefits both economically and ecologically.

Practical Examples: How the Measures Impact Daily Operations

Looking at concrete effects in data center operations reveals how efficiency measures play out in everyday life. A server rack with a 10-kilowatt IT load generates roughly 6 kilowatts of additional overhead per hour in a data center with a typical Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.6. At synaforce, where the PUE is below 1.1, that overhead drops to less than 1 kilowatt. Over the course of a year, this difference adds up to approximately 44,000 kilowatt-hours per rack, which, at standard electricity rates, translates into cost savings of several thousand euros.

When multiplied by the number of racks in a medium-sized company, these savings reach six-figure annual totals. Additionally, the carbon footprint is drastically reduced: an IT workload consuming 10 kilowatts produces about 41 metric tons of CO2 over one year when powered by Germany’s current electricity mix, whereas in a green-energy data center, the emissions approach zero. For companies that have declared climate neutrality as a corporate goal or need to demonstrate compliance under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), this represents a tangible, infrastructure-level contribution that does not require additional measures or adjustments, thereby freeing up capital for other sustainability initiatives.

Last but not least, this provides a clear foundation for communication with stakeholders, customers, and employees. Organizations that can document their IT infrastructure as being operated in a climate-friendly manner can credibly substantiate this claim in sustainability reports, tender documents, and customer communications. Such transparency not only enhances external reputation but also simplifies internal prioritization of digitalization projects tied to energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does PUE mean, and why is this metric so important?

PUE stands for Power Usage Effectiveness. It measures the ratio of a data center’s total energy consumption to its IT equipment energy usage. The closer the value is to 1.0, the lower the energy overhead required for cooling, UPS systems, and other infrastructure. synaforce achieves a PUE below 1.1.

What percentage of energy is generated on-site via photovoltaic systems?

The on-site photovoltaic installations in Hofkirchen cover 25 percent of the total energy demand. The remaining 75 percent has been sourced exclusively from certified green electricity derived from renewable sources since January 2023.

Which certifications does the synaforce data center hold?

In December 2022, an energy audit according to DIN EN 16274-1 was successfully completed. Additionally, the data centers operate under ISO 27001 and DIN EN 50600-certified standards, which set stringent requirements for data protection, security, and energy efficiency.

What advantages does a low PUE offer customers?

A low PUE translates into reduced energy costs per computing hour and a more favorable carbon footprint. For clients subject to CSRD reporting obligations or Scope 3 emissions reporting, this serves as direct, actionable evidence of climate-friendly hosting. Moreover, on-site energy generation provides cost stability during periods of soaring electricity prices.

How does synaforce compare internationally?

With a PUE below 1.1, synaforce aligns with leading hyperscale providers such as Google, Meta, and Microsoft. According to the Uptime Institute, the industry average stands significantly higher, ranging from approximately 1.58 to 1.7. As a mid-sized German provider, this level of efficiency positions synaforce as an exceptional case.

Image source: synaforce / Hofkirchen Data Center (press photo)