The pioneering Green Giant data center begins the move-in process for its first hyperscaler clients

When fully complete, the total campus will have up to 495 MW of capacity across six buildings by 2028 with the first building, NEST, completing construction in 2024.

SINES, PORTUGAL – October 2, 2023 – Start Campus, the company responsible for the development of 100% green energy ecosystems in Sines, Portugal, announces today that it has welcomed its first hyperscaler clients for the initial setup phase at its NEST building, the company’s first phase data hall. Highlights of this monumental event were showcased during a visit from Portuguese Minister of Infrastructure, João Galamba, who toured the 100% sustainable campus powered by 24×7 renewable energy on September 29, 2023.

In advance of the upcoming operational launch of the Start Campus data center, the onboarding process for the new hyperscalers is underway, including access to unique and diverse global network connectivity solutions. The NEST is scheduled to be fully operational by March 2024 and will deliver an initial 15 MW of power, setting the stage for a capacity of 495 MW across six buildings. When live, it will become one of Europe’s largest green hyperscale ecosystems. Start Campus projects its facility will create up to 1,200 direct, highly skilled jobs and 8,000 indirect jobs by 2028, contributing to the local economy and community.

“This moment represents a very important milestone for Start Campus and the SINES Project,” says Afonso Salema, CEO of Start Campus. “We are developing a dynamic sustainability-driven ecosystem that will place Portugal at the center of the rapidly growing international data market. We’re challenging what’s deemed possible in our industry, so we are particularly pleased with the entry of the first clients who resonate with our values, decisively reducing the carbon footprint of this industry.”

The SINES Project is poised to become one of the first and largest renewable energy-driven data center campuses in the world and is strategically positioned to act as a gateway between Europe, Africa and the Americas. To date, Start Campus has made significant strides by establishing network infrastructure partnerships with industry leaders like EllaLink, EXA Infrastructure, DE-CIX, and COLT. According to Afonso, “These alliances represent a pivotal milestone in our journey to enhance connectivity and drive digital innovation.”

The location of the SINES Project enables Portugal to provide international access via transatlantic cable landings, multiple  terrestrial network routes and the world’s largest Internet Exchange operator. Major subsea cable players such as Medusa, and EllaLink’s Olisipo and Fortaleza-Sines cable systems have already identified the area as the emerging “Atlantic Hub,” ushering in a new era of global connectivity that does not rely on the FLAP-D markets.

For the most up to date news, follow Start Campus on LinkedIn. For more information about Start Campus, visit www.startcampus.pt 

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About Start Campus

Start Campus is responsible for the development of the SINES Project, a Hyperscaler data center campus with a capacity of up to 495 MW in Sines, an investment of up to €3.5 billion. It will be one of the largest data center campuses in Europe and meets the growing demand from large international technology companies. It will create up to 1,200 direct highly skilled jobs and 8,000 indirect jobs by 2028. It is located in Sines and will benefit from all the strategic advantages such as seawater cooling systems, access to the high voltage electrical grid, connectivity through the connection to high capacity international networks of fiber optic cables with North America, Africa and South America. SINES Project will be one of the largest data center ecosystems with 100% green energy at competitive prices in a premium location in Europe, which is the perfect gateway to Europe and the world.

To learn more about Start Campus, visit www.startcampus.pt

Start Campus

Editorial Contact:

Afonso Vaz Pinto

JLM & Associates

Phone: (+351) 969-658-256

Email: avazpinto@jlma.pt

Media Contact:

Ilissa Miller

iMiller Public Relations
Tel: 1.914.315.6424
Email: StartCampus@imillerpr.com

Welcome to part three of our blog series highlighting our sustainable best practices here at  Start Campus. As one of Europe’s largest data center developments, it’s imperative that the design and construction of the campus create and foster a truly sustainable and completely renewable energy campus. We aim to embed all aspects of environmental protection and social inclusivity, and increase local economic development, in every department within the company. To read the previous articles of this series, access “For the Planet” or “For the Community”

Company Culture

Established in 2020, Start Campus is an innovative global technology and green energy company on the frontlines of creating sustainable data centers. It is important to us that our employees understand how valued they are, and that they are an integral part of what makes Start Campus great.

At Start Campus, we firmly believe that our employees are the backbone of our success. Skilled staff who are passionate about improving and disrupting the data center industry are our greatest asset for supporting Start Campus’s green initiative. We understand that a company is only as strong as its workforce. In this article, we want to express our appreciation for their contributions, highlight the reasons behind our employee-centric approach, and showcase the positive impact it has on our organization.

Employee-Centric Culture

We at Start Campus believe that our employees are not only family but a team working together to change the data center industry and the world. Their efforts are the reason we have made such strides since our inception in 2020. Our philosophy at Start Campus is built around making our employees feel recognized for the important work they do.

At the heart of our employee-centric philosophy is the creation of a supportive and inclusive environment[4]. We strive to foster a workplace culture that promotes open communication, collaboration, and respect. By providing a safe and welcoming space, we empower our employees to bring their whole selves to work and contribute their unique perspectives and talents.

Start Campus enjoys recognizing and celebrating the achievements of our employees. Whether it’s hitting sales targets, implementing innovative ideas, or going the extra mile to deliver exceptional customer service, we make it a point to acknowledge and appreciate their efforts. From regular employee recognition programs to team celebrations and awards, we want our employees to feel valued and know that their hard work does not go unnoticed.

Professional Growth[5] 

Professional growth and development[6]  are essential for both individual employees and the overall growth of Start Campus. We encourage our staff to expand their skill sets, educate themselves on green initiatives, and stay on the cutting edge of industry standards. By investing in their growth, we are not only enhancing their capabilities but also cultivating a highly skilled and motivated workforce.

At Start Campus, we believe that every employee has a unique perspective and their own valuable insights to contribute. We foster a culture that encourages and values employee feedback. We provide platforms for open dialogue, actively seek employee input on decision-making processes, and empower them to take ownership of their work. By listening to and incorporating their ideas, we create a sense of ownership and pride, fostering a stronger sense of belonging. We firmly believe that diverse ideas lead to innovation, so we actively seek to diversify our workforce through inclusivity and open hiring practices. 

Start Campus’s employees are the driving force behind our achievements. By prioritizing their well-being, recognizing their contributions, and investing in their growth, we create an environment where they can thrive. This in turn inspires them to go out and advocate for the improvement of the industry and the planet.

For more information about Start Campus, discover what we do. To join the Start Campus team, access our current job opportunities.

This partnership will enhance the current route into a comprehensive ecosystem that provides high capacity, diverse routing options and ultra-low latency connectivity

SINES, PORTUGAL – September 26, 2023 – Start Campus, the company responsible for the development of 100% green energy ecosystems, today announced it has partnered with Colt Technology Services (Colt), the digital infrastructure company. This collaboration enables Colt to expand the footprint of its Colt IQ Network locally and globally, and make Start Campus’s SINES Project its home to power the connectivity requirements of the customers. This partnership will enhance the current route into a comprehensive ecosystem that provides high capacity, diverse routing options, and ultra-low latency connectivity.

The SINES Project is one of the largest hyperscale data center ecosystems in Europe, acting as a gateway between Europe, Africa and the Americas. Powered by renewable and affordable energy, Start Campus offers a 100% sustainable campus powered by 24×7 renewable energy facilities resulting in a low total cost of operations for its customers. At the southwestern edge of Europe, the SINES Project at Start Campus is a unique location for subsea cables, with multiple providers planning to land their systems there, including EllaLink, which connects Europe, South America, and Africa. The location of the Sines Project enables Portugal to act as a connectivity hub for Europe, providing access via transatlantic cable landings and Colt’s terrestrial network routes.

“We are thrilled to partner with Colt, a company that shares our vision for sustainability,” says Afonso Salema, Chief Officer Executive (CEO) of Start Campus. “This partnership will enable us to explore innovative solutions that maximize efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. This partnership helps position Portugal as a leading global digital hub. We are eager to see what the future holds for this collaboration.”

“As Colt remains committed to bolstering our global digital infrastructure, our partnership with Start Campus marks a significant stride towards establishing the Iberian Peninsula as a pivotal global digital hub,” says Carlos Jesus, VP Global Service Delivery and Portugal Country Manager of Colt Technology Services. “We are also excited to partner with Start Campus because of our shared vision for sustainability. At Colt, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is by design and embedded in everything we do, from intelligent network design to selecting our partners.”

In 2021, Start Campus announced the project SINES 4.0©, an hyperscale data center, with a capacity of up to 495 MW, in Sines, Portugal, representing an investment of up to €3.5 billion. It will be one of Europe’s largest data center campuses, responding to the large international technology companies’ growing demand.

For more information about Colt, visit www.colt.net

For more information about Start Campus, visit www.startcampus.pt 

About Start Campus

Start Campus is responsible for the development of the SINES Project, a Hyperscaler data center campus with a capacity of up to 495 MW in Sines, an investment of up to €3.5 billion. It will be one of the largest data center campuses in Europe and meets the growing demand from large international technology companies. It will create up to 1,200 direct highly skilled jobs and 8,000 indirect jobs by 2028. It is located in Sines and will benefit from all the strategic advantages such as seawater cooling systems, access to the high voltage electrical grid, connectivity through the connection to high capacity international networks of fiber optic cables with North America, Africa and South America. SINES Project will be one of the largest data center ecosystems with 100% green energy at competitive prices in a premium location in Europe, which is the perfect gateway to Europe and the world.

To learn more about Start Campus, visit www.startcampus.pt

About Colt Technology Services  

Colt Technology Services (Colt) is a global digital infrastructure company which creates extraordinary connections to help businesses succeed. Powered by amazing people and like-minded partners, Colt is driven by its purpose: to put the power of the digital universe in the hands of its customers, wherever, whenever and however they choose.

Since 1992, Colt has set itself apart through its deep commitment to its customers, growing from its heritage in the City of London to more than 60 offices around the world. The powerful Colt IQ Network connects 222 cities and 32 countries with more than 1000 data centers, 51 Metropolitan Area Networks and over 31,000 buildings across Europe, Asia and North America’s largest business hubs. Privately owned, Colt is one of the most financially sound companies in the sector. Obsessed with delivering industry-leading customer experience, Colt is guided by its dedication to customer innovation, by its values and its responsibility to its customers, partners, people and planet.

The green giant data center campus in Sines is set to welcome the largest neutral interconnection ecosystem on the planet

SINES, PORTUGAL – September 21, 2023 – Start Campus, the company responsible for the development of 100% green energy ecosystems, announces that its SINES, Portugal location will soon be home to DE-CIX, the world’s leading Internet Exchange (IX) operator. DE-CIX, also home to the largest carrier and data center neutral interconnection ecosystem on the planet, is expanding its Southern Europe IX footprint with a new Point of Presence (PoP) at Start Campus’s SINES Project, approximately 100 km from Lisbon, Portugal. 

Start Campus’s 100% sustainable data center campus, powered by 24×7 renewable energy facilities, will be the site of a future access point for DE-CIX Lisbon, with direct connectivity to other DE-CIX IXs in Southern Europe, such as Madrid, Barcelona, and Marseille. When services are live in 2024, SINES will emerge as a key intercontinental connectivity hub and an important exchange point for data traffic going to and from Europe, North America, South America, and Africa. Sines is uniquely positioned at Europe’s Southwestern edge, and multiple subsea providers plan to land their systems at Start Campus’s SINES Project, including EllaLink, which interconnects Europe, South America, and Africa. 

“We are thrilled to welcome DE-CIX to Start Campus and to offer our customers an industry-leading IX solution that will keep local traffic local while routing data more efficiently across DE-CIX’s interconnected footprint, which spans  multiple metro regions, continents, and hundreds of data centers,” comments Fabiola Bordino, Head of Sustainability, Communication and Marketing at Start Campus. “As we build the industry’s first 100% sustainable, 24×7 renewable energy powered data center campus, companies like DE-CIX are critical. Enabling ease of interconnection and reach exemplifies our mission of creating a robust digital ecosystem to benefit the industry and our local market.”   

“DE-CIX is excited to help herald in a new era of connectivity in Sines, Portugal with Start Campus’s SINES project,” adds Theresa Bobis, Regional Director, Southern Europe at DE-CIX. “Sines is set to be home to multiple subsea systems interconnecting and serving Southern Europe, coupled with the enhanced proximity and reach to Africa and other European markets, DE-CIX is excited to expand its Southern Europe footprint to Sines, fortifying connectivity for Portugal and beyond.”  

DE-CIX offers interconnection services in close to 50 metro markets in Europe, Africa, North America, the Middle East, and Asia. Accessible from data centers in over 600 cities worldwide, DE-CIX interconnects thousands of network operators (carriers), Internet service providers (ISPs), content providers, and enterprise networks from over 100 countries and offers peering cloud and interconnection services. DE-CIX in Frankfurt, Germany, is one of the largest Internet Exchanges in the world, with a data volume of almost 34 Exabytes per year (as of 2022) and close to 1,100 connected networks. 

Start Campus is dedicated to utilizing strategic locations to enable gateway connectivity. Their partnership with DE-CIX marks an important step in bringing their vision of sustainably supported data center ecosystems to life, with ocean water cooling systems, high-voltage power grids, and high-capacity international fiber optic cables ready to channel IX traffic by late 2023. 

For more information about DE-CIX, visit www.de-cix.net. 

For more information about Start Campus, visit www.startcampus.pt. 

About Start Campus

Start Campus is responsible for the development of the SINES Project, a Hyperscaler data center campus with a capacity of up to 495 MW in Sines, an investment of up to €3.5 billion. It will be one of the largest data center campuses in Europe and meets the growing demand from large international technology companies. It will create up to 1,200 direct highly skilled jobs and 8,000 indirect jobs by 2028. It is located in Sines and will benefit from all the strategic advantages such as seawater cooling systems, access to the high voltage electrical grid, connectivity through the connection to high capacity international networks of fiber optic cables with North America, Africa and South America. SINES Project will be one of the largest data center ecosystems with 100% green energy at competitive prices in a premium location in Europe, which is the perfect gateway to Europe and the world. To learn more about Start Campus, visit www.startcampus.pt.

About DE-CIX 

DE-CIX (German Commercial Internet Exchange) is the world’s leading operator of Internet Exchanges (IXs). DE-CIX offers its interconnection services in close to 50  metro-markets in Europe, Africa, North America, the Middle East, and Asia. Accessible from data centers in over 600 cities world-wide, DE-CIX interconnects thousands of network operators (carriers), Internet service providers (ISPs), content providers and enterprise networks from more than 100 countries, and offers peering, cloud, and interconnection services. DE-CIX in Frankfurt, Germany, is one of the largest Internet Exchanges in the world, with a data volume of almost 34 Exabytes per year (as of 2022) and close to 1,100 connected networks. More than 200 colleagues from over 30 different nations form the foundation of the DE-CIX success story in Germany and around the world. Since the beginning of the commercial Internet, DE-CIX has had a decisive influence — in a range of leading global bodies, such as the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) — in codifying guiding principles for the Internet of the present and the future. As the operator of critical IT infrastructure, DE-CIX bears a great responsibility for the seamless, fast, and secure data exchange between people, enterprises, and organizations at its locations around the globe. Further information at www.de-cix.net. 

Lisbon, Portugal – September 12, 2023 –  Start Campus, an innovator in the site selection, design, and building 100% green energy ecosystems, will have Fabiola Bordino, Head of Sustainability, Communication & Marketing, speak on the future of digital infrastructure expansion across Europe at the Datacloud ESG Summit 2023 on Tuesday, September 26, in Oslo, Norway. Fabiola has over a decade of experience in sustainability and digital transformation. Fabiola utilizes her passion for sustainability to help transform how data center companies can enable digital transformation while minimizing the effects on the planet and having a more positive impact on communities.

Fabiola will be a featured speaker on the panel “Establishing a Futureproof Foothold Beyond FLAP-D” at 11:50 AM local time. In light of the new-build moratorium in Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany, key financial hubs that have typically been first choices for new builds are off the market, requiring companies to look elsewhere for their future infrastructure needs. This panel will examine the importance of selecting locations when finding a home for a company’s infrastructure, weighing the benefits of retrofitting existing facilities versus building a ground-up green facility according to the latest sustainability standards, and if FLAP-D (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Dublin) is still a contributing factor.

The Datacloud ESG Summit 2023 unites data centers, cloud providers, hyperscale, enterprise, equipment vendors, energy providers, real estate, financiers, network providers, tower, construction, and regulators, all of whom are seeking ways to run, or invest in, greener business. The event will open up a dialogue, find solutions, and show the world what’s possible when we collaborate toward a greener future.

WHAT: Panel discussion: Establishing a Futureproof Foothold Beyond FLAP-D

WHERE: Grand Hotel Oslo, Oslo, Norway

WHEN: 26, September 2023 at 11:50 AM local time

WHO: Fabiola Bordino, Start Campus | Wojciech Stramski, Beyond.pl

To learn more about Start Campus, visit: https://www.startcampus.pt/en/

About Start Campus

Start Campus is responsible for the development of the SINES project, a Hyperscale Data Centre campus with a capacity of 495MW in Sines, in an investment of up to 3.5 billion euros. It will be one of the largest data center campuses in Europe and meets the growing demand from large international technology companies. It will create up to 1,200 direct highly skilled jobs and 8,000 indirect jobs by 2028. It is located in Sines and will benefit from all the strategic advantages such as cooling systems with sea water, access to the high-voltage electricity grid, connectivity through the connection to international high-capacity networks of fiber optic cables with North America, Africa and South America. SINES project will be one of the largest data center ecosystems with 100% green energy at competitive prices in a premium location in Europe, which is the perfect gateway to Europe and the world. The first building is scheduled to open in end-2023.

Pioneering water-cooling technology set to elevate energy efficiencies and cooling capabilities at this emerging Atlantic Hub

Lisbon, September 7, 2023 – Start Campus, the company responsible for developing the SINES Project — a 495 MW hyperscale data center development — and Nautilus  Data Technologies announce a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Nautilus’ cooling technology to support sustainable cooling for Start Campus’s SINES Project operations.

Under the terms of the MoU, Start Campus will integrate Nautilus’ pioneering zero-water consuming cooling system, a patented technology proven to elevate energy efficiency and cooling capabilities across various phases of the project. As stated in the agreement, Start Campus and Nautilus will be working together to implement cooling technology during Phase 1 of construction, currently underway in Sines. The units will aid in enhancing existing cooling designs at the campus to fulfill Start Campus’s high-density, liquid-cooled server requirements. In Phase 2, Start Campus plans to leverage the full Nautilus’ integrated technology and delivery solution for its 120 MW expansion.

“At Start Campus, we believe in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the data center ecosystem,” says Afonso Salema, CEO of Start Campus. “Start Campus is always thrilled to find dedicated partners who share our vision for a sustainable and efficient data center model. This partnership with Nautilus aligns perfectly with our mission to explore innovative solutions that maximize efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. We can’t wait to see the future of this collaboration.”

“Nautilus provides the foundational infrastructure that, when combined with partners like Start Campus, paves the way for the most efficient and sustainable data centers,” says Rob Pfleging, CEO of Nautilus Data Technologies, “Teaming up with Start Campus, a visionary in the data center sector, allows us to elevate the efficiency and environmental stewardship of our solutions. Together, we are reshaping the blueprint of tomorrow’s data center landscape.”

The signed agreement solidifies the shared ambition of Start Campus and Nautilus to revolutionize data center development through green innovation. Their combined expertise promises to shape the future of the industry, embracing sustainable practices and advanced cooling solutions.

As the partnership evolves, both entities foresee Nautilus’ patented water-cooling system playing an integral role in Start Campus’ designs. The mutual goal is to incorporate the full breadth of Nautilus’ cutting-edge technology across future projects, driving greater efficiency and sustainability in the data center sector.

For more information about Start Campus’s SINES project, visit https://www.startcampus.pt/en/.

About Nautilus Data Technologies

Nautilus Data Technologies is leading the charge in sustainable data center innovation with water-cooled data center solutions that provide the fastest speed to market while reducing the impact on nature. Nautilus infrastructure is designed, built, and operated for sustainability and efficiency, offering unrivaled performance outcomes. The company is headquartered in San Ramon, CA, and operates globally with a growing network of international suppliers and developers. For more information, visit https://nautilusdt.com

About Start Campus

Start Campus is responsible for the development of the SINES Project, a Hyperscaler data center campus with a capacity of up to 495 MW in Sines, an investment of up to €3.5 billion. It will be one of the largest data center campuses in Europe and meets the growing demand from large international technology companies. It will create up to 1,200 direct highly skilled jobs and 8,000 indirect jobs by 2028. It is located in Sines and will benefit from all the strategic advantages such as seawater cooling systems, access to the high voltage electrical grid, connectivity through the connection to high capacity international networks of fiber optic cables with North America, Africa and South America. SINES Project will be one of the largest data center ecosystems with 100% green energy at competitive prices in a premium location in Europe, which is the perfect gateway to Europe and the world. To learn more about Start Campus, visit www.startcampus.pt.

Welcome to part two of four in our blog series highlighting our sustainable best practices. If you missed the first one “For the Planet,” you can read the overview of our sustainability blog[1]  series here. This blog focuses on the company’s initiatives for sustainable community development.

Sustainable Communities

Start Campus supports the community by creating sustainable industries[4]  and investing in local, pivotal projects that support the regional shift toward a circular economy. These efforts include promoting sustainable economic growth[5]  through local employment and community involvement. Some of the initiatives we are developing in Start Campus are:

Local Community

We believe that community is the heart of the region and all that it surrounds. At the start of our SINES Project, we went to the community to present our concept and get feedback to understand how we could positively influence the region.

From that exercise, the GAMMA Community Platform was born — an annual initiative that invests in community-driven projects. This proactive engagement funds and supports several community projects each year that target and benefit the municipalities surrounding Start Campus’ projects. The goal is to leave a positive impact in the region by promoting economic growth and prosperity through collaboration with local entrepreneurs, residents, and other stakeholders, helping to support their vision for the future.

The GAMMA Platform exists to empower community members to be leaders in regional development by supporting local initiatives that reflect four investment pillars:

We’re committed to local communities and are constantly active in forums to continue to learn and grow with our community.

Education

Start Campus aims to increase regional economic development by creating positive spillovers from the promotion of sustainable entrepreneurship[1]  initiatives, and the re-skilling of local populations. By doing this, we improve employability, as well as the focus on training and developing skills in relevant areas of expertise.

We work with local technical schools to offer data center-related disciplines/courses, resulting in new talent joining the industry. This aids in building human capital to address the market’s skilled workforce shortage.

As a company, we’ve collaborated with an IPS — Setúbal Polytechnical Institution — to develop a new data science course[2]  specifically designed for data centers. Engineers will be trained to support renewable energy[3]  and cooling operations at green facilities.

Employment

Our SINES Project promotes new employment opportunities with up to 1,200 direct jobs and up to 8,000 jobs in total for the local region.

Start Campus aims to use these guidelines to address sustainability for the community, and to support them through their various initiatives. By instituting these programs, we — and the industry as a whole — can foster an environment where workers and the community at large can and will thrive.

For more information about Start Campus Community engagement policy, visit Sustainability for the Community.

For more information about Start Campus, visit our website.

We believe that Start Campus is in the forefront of establishing industry-wide sustainability standards with its commitment to developing green giant ecosystems — 100% green energy sustainable data centers . By prioritizing transparency and taking decisive action, Start Campus aims to inspire others in the industry and drive positive change on a local, national, and global scale.

Sustainable Earth

Today, the rapid pace of global digital transformation and AI development is driving volumes of data creation, storage, and usage leading to surging demand for data centers. While much has been achieved to address the power needs of these facilities, a change is needed if we are to continue to power digital and energy transitions while at the same time meeting goals for net zero emissions.

As a leading data center developer committed to sustainable practices and 24/7 renewable energy power, we at Start Campus want to share insights into its elevated sustainability standards, policies and good practices through this four-part blog series, with the goal of creating needed awareness, encouraging widespread adoption of best practices, and influencing new industry best practices.

At Start Campus, we believe in actively designing, measuring, reporting, and continuously improving sustainability-related standards goals to effectively assess our environmental, social, and economic impact. This commitment ensures that we align with the targets set by the Paris Climate Agreement and fulfill the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals.

We take pride in being pioneers developing a comprehensive chain of connectivity embedded with sustainable initiatives at every step, fostering a collaborative ecosystem that drives holistic sustainability.
The Start Campus Sustainable Development Goals serve as guiding principles as we move toward global sustainability. To achieve these goals, we have established four Sustainability Pillars:

  1. For the Planet  
  2. For the Community  
  3. For Start Campus  
  4. For the Industry

For the Planet

In this first blog of our four-part series, we shed light on Start Campus’ Sustainability Guidelines and what sets us apart from other data center service providers whose efforts are limited to carbon offsetting by purchasing carbon credits from unrelated third parties. At Start Campus, we take innovative carbon offsetting initiatives right at our campus sites through a range of initiatives.

At our SINES Project, a 495 MW hyperscale data center campus, we have designed an energy-independent system powered exclusively by renewable energ y, and hybrid solar/wind parks supported by batteries and green power purchase agreements. This approach enables access to:

From the very beginning of the construction phase, we incorporated carbon modeling for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions scopes 1 (direct emissions), 2 (indirect emissions), and 3 (other emissions), going beyond industry norms that only address emissions scope 1 and 2. By utilizing state-of-the-art green concrete and recycled scrap metal in the construction of our SIN01 building, Start Campus has successfully achieved an outstanding 16% reduction in carbon emissions . These sustainability-driven initiatives not only benefit our own data center facilities but also influence the broader data center industry and supply chain, promoting the use of eco-friendly construction materials.

Biodiversity and Sustainability

Another key aspect of our sustainability focus is the restoration of natural habitats and the promotion of local biodiversity. We actively engage in planting, nurturing, and conserving native vegetation, as well as constructing water retention basins in strategic locations to promote endogenous species to thrive within our data center campus.

Collaborating with local universities, we identify suitable vegetation to support biodiversity while maintaining a net zero biodiversity loss. By purposefully placing shade-loving vegetation around our buildings and beneath solar panels, we optimize space utilization while creating carbon sinks. Over time, these carbon sinks will not only contribute to significant cost benefits, particularly with the anticipated rise in carbon tax, but also help us achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2025 (with a Carbon Usage Effectiveness (CUE) of 0) and full carbon neutrality by 2028 at the Start Campus SINES location.

Start Campus works to synergize with neighboring industries to reclaim waste heat and explore potential monetization of waste streams. For instance, we leverage the cold ocean water rejected by the nearby liquefied natural gas facility that uses it as process water for their gasification processes, colling it down and creating huge efficiencies for our colling process and promoting circular economy within an industrial area.

Our approach fosters holistic industry collaborations, driving operational efficiencies, lowering operational costs, and moving the industry toward a green future.

This blog article highlights Start Campus’s guidelines to address environmental sustainability — more specifically, it outlines what Start Campus is implementing to elevate the company and industry’s sustainability standards.

For more information about Start Campus, visit Sustainability for the Planet.

Lisbon, Portugal – July 24, 2023 –  Start Campus, an organization developing cutting-edge sustainable data center services, announces that Fabiola Bordino, Head of Sustainability, Communication & Marketing, will be a guest on the esteemed webinar series Sustainability Superheroes, produced by AiDash. In this Sustainability Superheroes episode, Start Campus’s Fabiola Bordino will share the best ways to create a circular economy within big industries, ensuring sustainability efforts can not only save money but also boost profits. The episode will be live streamed at 2 p.m. BST/ 9 a.m. ET on July 25th.

In this session, Fabiola will cover the top three sustainability practices that save and earn money, practical strategies for applying circular economy principles to upfront design and future-proofing businesses, and the best way to build productive relationships with local communities.

Start Campus is dedicated to becoming a leading force in sustainability by building 100% green energy data center ecosystems, a much-needed asset when it comes to the rapid expansion of data industry across the globe. The company is on the cutting edge when it comes to utilizing “circular economy,” a model that aims to maximize resource efficiency and minimize waste by keeping materials and products in use for as long as possible. Start Campus’s SINES Project applies circular economy with their ocean water-cooling system, which both uses natural seawater and repurposed pre-cooled seawater, minimizing waste and giving Start Campus negligible water consumption.

When Start Campus set out in 2020 to be fully carbon free by 2028, they decided to take a novel P&L approach to sustainability. Now, they are taking the approaches to savings and profits they used within their own sustainable data center initiatives and applying them to other industries. The challenge is to move beyond simply checking traditional sustainability boxes.

Success means dismantling linear economy (“take-make-waste”) operations and replacing them with circular economy practices that reduce waste, recirculate resources, and regenerate nature. These are the processes that can reduce costs and make sustainability a profit center.

In Portugal, the Sines region has the highest potential to host a high capacity/ high density data processing infrastructure with reduced impact on the community and the planet, through the use of environmentally sustainable solutions and a location in an industrial location that allows the conversion of industrial infrastructures. Fabiola will address how Start Campus puts circular economy into action, and how the data center industry can benefit from this model.

WHEN: July 25, 2023 | 2 p.m. BST | 9 a.m. ET

WHAT: Webinar: The Circular Economy

WHO: Fabiola Bordino, Head of Sustainability, Communication & Marketing

LOCATION: Online

To learn more about Start Campus, visit: https://www.startcampus.pt/en/

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About Start Campus

Start Campus is responsible for the development of the SINES project, a Hyperscale Data Centre campus with a capacity of 495MW in Sines, in an investment of up to 3.5 billion euros. It will be one of the largest data center campuses in Europe and meets the growing demand from large international technology companies. It will create up to 1,200 direct highly skilled jobs and 8,000 indirect jobs by 2028. It is located in Sines and will benefit from all the strategic advantages such as cooling systems with sea water, access to the high-voltage electricity grid, connectivity through the connection to international high-capacity networks of fiber optic cables with North America, Africa and South America. SINES project will be one of the largest data center ecosystems with 100% green energy at competitive prices in a premium location in Europe, which is the perfect gateway to Europe and the world.

About Sustainability Superheroes

Sustainability Superheroes is a monthly virtual live event series with real conversations featuring leaders in sustainability efforts. Experts discuss top trends, challenges, and frameworks — and most importantly — how they navigate it all to help create a greener, cleaner, more sustainable future.