Yorizon Cloud Activates On-Site Solar Array to Power German Data Center

European sovereign cloud provider Yorizon Cloud has switched on a ground-mounted solar array at its Yexio data center in Heiligenhaus, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, marking a step toward self-sufficient, low-carbon data center operations. The deployment reflects a broader industry push to integrate behind-the-meter renewable generation as hyperscale and regional cloud providers alike seek to reduce grid dependency and meet sustainability targets.

The solar installation was constructed and installed by Essen-based construction group Hochtief through its subsidiary Hochtief Solarpartner. The array generates 220 megawatt-hours of solar power annually, which is consumed directly on-site to support the data center’s operations. This arrangement allows the facility to offset a portion of its electricity consumption with locally produced clean energy, bypassing the need for grid transmission.

Yorizon launched the Heiligenhaus data center last year with an initial capacity of 2 megawatts, expandable to 4 megawatts. Located at the Heiligenhaus Innovation Park, the facility employs direct water cooling and was constructed predominantly from wood to reduce its embedded carbon footprint. The combination of renewable generation, efficient cooling, and sustainable building materials underscores the company’s emphasis on environmental performance from design through operations.

Yexio was formed in 2024 as a joint venture between Hochtief PPP Solutions and Thomas-Krenn. Beyond Heiligenhaus, the company is developing two additional data centers to support its Germany West cloud region. Most recently, it broke ground on a facility in Herne, also in North Rhine-Westphalia. Yorizon expects to complete the Germany West cloud region in 2027, which will include the Heiligenhaus, Herne, and Bad Lippspringe data centers. The company also has a data center under development in Bavaria.

The integration of on-site solar at a sovereign cloud data center highlights how regional providers are advancing energy autonomy while adhering to strict data residency and sustainability requirements. As European regulations around energy efficiency and carbon reporting tighten, behind-the-meter generation is becoming an increasingly attractive option for colocation and cloud operators seeking to control both power costs and environmental impact.