Brief
Khazna Data Centres targets 100% carbon‑free cooling power by 2035
The ESG director says 27% of mechanical cooling was carbon‑free in 2025, with on‑site solar and clean‑energy certificates.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Khazna Data Centres, a leading Abu Dhabi data‑centre operator, announced its ambition to achieve 100% carbon‑free electricity for mechanical cooling by 2035, as AI‑driven demand fuels rapid expansion in the emirate.
What happened
Elisabetta Baronio, ESG Director at Khazna, told Gulf News that the company already covered 27% of its mechanical cooling load with carbon‑free electricity in 2025. About 20% of that came from on‑site solar generation, while the remaining 80% was sourced through certified clean‑energy instruments. The firm aims for 50% coverage by 2030 and full coverage by 2035, focusing on the cooling load rather than total electricity consumption.
What the reports add
The article notes that Khazna’s 2025 ESG report recorded 246,468 MWh of grid electricity used for mechanical cooling and that recycled water made up 19.8% of cooling‑water consumption. New data‑centres are being built with a power‑usage‑effectiveness (PUE) rating of 1.5 or lower, using modular construction, efficient cooling systems and real‑time energy monitoring.
What was said
Baronio said, “Our 2035 ambition specifically covers mechanical cooling load, rather than total electricity consumption including compute load.” Hassan Alnaqbi, CEO of Khazna, added that the expansion brings expectations for operators to reduce environmental impact and report progress more consistently.
How it came about
The push aligns with Abu Dhabi’s broader strategy to digitise government services, develop sovereign cloud infrastructure and position the emirate as a regional AI hub, as highlighted in recent Felo News coverage of the city’s livability vision and infrastructure projects.
Key facts
- Khazna aims for 100% carbon‑free electricity for mechanical cooling by 2035. (gulfnews.com)
- 27% of mechanical cooling was carbon‑free in 2025, with 20% from on‑site solar. (gulfnews.com)
- New data‑centres target a PUE of 1.5 or lower and use modular, efficient cooling systems. (gulfnews.com)
- Recycled water accounted for 19.8% of cooling‑water use in 2025. (gulfnews.com)
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “Abu Dhabi data-centre expansion accelerates as 100% carbon-free cooling power set as 2035 goal”
