Hitachi Vantara details gains in energy efficiency & carbon cuts

Hitachi Vantara has published its FY2024 Sustainability Report, providing details of progress in energy efficiency, carbon reduction and sustainable business practices.

The report marks the company's second annual review of environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives, including achievements in energy-efficient infrastructure, reductions in carbon emissions and customer outcomes across several regions. The publication expands on last year's inaugural report and aims to illustrate the impact of Hitachi Vantara's efforts both internally and with external partners.

Hitachi Vantara highlighted that a number of its storage solutions have received ENERGY STAR certification for energy efficiency, with several products ranking at the top within the ENERGY STAR NVSS Disk Online 4 category. The company's Virtual Storage Platform One Block (VSP One Block) achieved the highest position for energy-efficient storage systems.

Sheila Rohra, Chief Executive Officer of Hitachi Vantara, said: "We're proud of the progress we've made since our inaugural Sustainability Report, but we know the journey doesn't end there. Our focus remains on highlighting how sustainability, particularly in the data center, can be both a key driver of innovation and a business differentiator - from reducing carbon emissions to helping businesses achieve energy savings, enhance operational efficiency and meet their broader sustainability goals."

In terms of materials, Hitachi Vantara's flagship storage models now incorporate bezels made from 40% by weight of post-consumer recycled plastics, which are also flame-resistant and meet safety standards. The company has set a target to increase recycled content to 50% by FY2030 by utilising more recycled materials in additional components, including drive canisters and biomass-based parts, as well as continuing IT resource recycling programmes.

Operationally, Hitachi Vantara disclosed that it used 78,211 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy in FY2024, with 90% sourced from grid electricity. Of this, 35% was derived from renewables such as solar and wind. The report also noted a 50% reduction in energy consumption at the company's Denver data centre following a facility refresh, which included infrastructure consolidation and improved airflow. This led to power usage effectiveness (PUE) improving from 1.6 to 1.3.

The company has reaffirmed commitments to carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by FY2030, with a further goal to reach carbon neutrality across the entire value chain by FY2050.

To support ongoing sustainability goals into the new financial year, Hitachi Vantara has introduced a Sustainability Guarantee linked to its storage platforms. This offering, available with the VSP One range, enables business customers to track and optimise energy use and provides a guaranteed maximum power consumption target.

The FY2024 Sustainability Report continues to outline Hitachi Vantara's intended direction on environmental commitments, sustainable operations and support for customers seeking cost-effective ways to reduce their environmental impact.