Brightsolid, Quantico lead on transparent data centre emissions

Brightsolid has commissioned Quantico Solutions to create a new framework that measures the environmental impact of its Scottish data centre operations and services.

The collaboration will help Brightsolid provide its customers with transparent, customer-specific reporting on data centre carbon usage. This in turn will assist organisations seeking to understand and quantify the environmental effects of their technology decisions.

The project reflects Brightsolid's stated aim to provide clear insight into the environmental impact of IT infrastructure, while reinforcing its own corporate commitments to transparency and environmental responsibility.

Customer-level insight

Brightsolid, part of DC Thomson and with a history spanning over 25 years, provides managed hybrid cloud and cyber security services to a range of customers. Its client base includes Aberdeenshire Council, Burness Paull, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Dundee City Council, Shell, University of Dundee, and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Quantico Solutions specialises in modelling the financial and environmental return on investment (ROI) of technological solutions, delivering analyses that balance operational efficiency with sustainability across sectors such as transport, facilities, and IT.

Stuart Melhuish, Director at Quantico Solutions, said, "As the world becomes ever more digitally driven, even more so with the advent of AI, measures around the environmental impact of data centres are becoming increasingly important."

"Many operators, including Brightsolid, responsibly source their energy from green sources, but this partnership represents a significant step towards greater transparency.

"By modelling the exact carbon footprint of services down to customer level, Brightsolid will be able to provide clients with an accurate picture of their scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, and enable them to make better-informed decisions."

Commitment to sustainability

Bespoke modelling from Quantico Solutions will enable Brightsolid clients to review their own holistic environmental performance, including precise information regarding scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions associated with their technology usage within Brightsolid-operated data centres. This is expected to support ESG (environmental, social and governance) reporting requirements both for public sector and private organisations.

Elaine Maddison, Chief Executive Officer of Brightsolid, described the initiative as an extension of the company's dedication to environmental responsibility: "This work with Quantico Solutions is a continuation of our commitment to environmental responsibility. We know that IT and data services have an ever-increasing role in the global carbon picture, and this initiative will help our customers understand the true impact of their technology choices and how they can take steps towards reducing it."

Brightsolid states that all of its data centres are currently powered by 100% renewable clean energy, including wind and hydroelectric sources. The company says these energy sources are fully backed by Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs) and are verified by EcoAct, a CDP accredited provider.

Maddison elaborated on recent sustainability measures, saying: "We also recently installed a one hundred and fifty-five solar panel system at our Dundee headquarters that will contribute to the day-to-day energy needs of the company's offices, reducing reliance on grid-supplied electricity, and our overall commitment to environmental sustainability is demonstrated by our ISO 14001 Accreditation.

"This project with Quantico Solutions aims to take things to the next stage by helping our customers quantify their scope 3 environmental performance at a granular level."

Looking ahead

This partnership is part of a broader shift in the technology industry, where environmental impact measurement is becoming increasingly integral to business and regulatory requirements. By providing tailored, customer-level carbon reporting, Brightsolid and Quantico Solutions aim to give organisations enhanced control and understanding over their digital carbon footprint.