Digital Realty: ZUR2 Data Center Achieves the World’s First SDEA PLATINUM Plus Certification
Digital Realty’s ZUR2 data center in Zurich has earned the very first PLATINUM Plus certification ever awarded by the Swiss Datacenter Efficiency Association (SDEA), establishing a worldwide benchmark for operational efficiency and sustainability in the industry.
Digital Realty (NYSE: DLR), a global leader in carrier‑neutral data centers, colocation, and interconnection solutions, announced today that its Zurich data center, ZUR2, has earned the PLATINUM Plus certification from the Swiss Datacenter Efficiency Association (SDEA).
This marks an unprecedented achievement: it is the first time the association has ever granted a “PLATINUM Plus” level. The award confirms Digital Realty’s position at the forefront of innovation and sustainability across its worldwide infrastructure portfolio.
Thanks to outstanding operational metrics—including a PUE⁺ of 1.10, a CUE⁺ of 0.02, and a WUE⁺ of 0.00—ZUR2 sets a new benchmark for data‑center sustainability in Switzerland, attaining the highest recognition available under SDEA’s independent certification system, which is based on real‑world measurements.
“Achieving the very first PLATINUM Plus certification is a historic milestone for Digital Realty and underscores that sustainability is the true driver of our innovation,” said Yves Zischek, Managing Director of Digital Realty in Switzerland. “ZUR2 demonstrates how operational excellence and environmental responsibility can go hand‑in‑hand, delivering tangible impact for our customers and the communities where we operate.”
The SDEA certification relies on independent verification of operational data and assesses data centers through key sustainability indicators such as energy efficiency (PUE⁺), carbon footprint (CUE⁺), and water‑use efficiency (WUE⁺). Unlike certifications that focus solely on the design phase, the SDEA model evaluates actual operational performance, providing the industry with a transparent and authoritative benchmark.
“PLATINUM Plus is an entirely new tier, not only for Digital Realty but for SDEA itself,” said Babak Falsafi, President of SDEA. “This performance level represents the highest efficiency standard currently attainable and demonstrates what can be achieved through rigorous measurement and continual process refinement.”
Digital Realty continues its commitment to sustainability by emphasizing innovation, transparency, and measurable results. The goal is to help customers meet their own environmental targets while continuously improving the efficiency of its global data‑center network.
About Digital Realty
Digital Realty enables the digital transformation of enterprises and organizations by providing carrier‑neutral data centers, colocation, and interconnection solutions that connect people, data, and technology on a global scale. Its PlatformDIGITAL® platform delivers a secure environment for data management and is built on the proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx®), designed to spur innovation—from cloud services to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. With more than 300 operational facilities across over 50 metropolitan areas in 25 countries on six continents, Digital Realty offers its customers access to strategically significant, connected digital ecosystems. For more information, visit digitalrealty.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X.
About SDEA
The Swiss Datacenter Efficiency Association (SDEA) is an independent, non‑profit organization where industry, academia, and institutions collaborate to turn certified sustainability into the global standard for data‑center management. SDEA offers two complementary tools: the award‑winning SDEA Navigator, an online platform that measures data‑center sustainability across four dimensions—facility efficiency, IT efficiency, carbon footprint, and water consumption—and the SDEA Label, a certification based on 12 months of real operational data verified through independent third‑party audits. For more information, visit sdea.ch or follow the association’s LinkedIn page.