As digital transformation accelerates across Africa, data centres are becoming increasingly important drivers of electricity demand. Ensuring that this growth is compatible with climate objectives requires a focus on energy efficiency, infrastructure resilience and access to reliable low-carbon power. The European Code of Conduct for Energy Efficiency in Data Centres provides a voluntary framework to improve operational performance, reduce energy consumption and support emissions reduction across the sector.
This paper presents the Lomé Data Centre as a practical case study, examining how the adoption of the European Code of Conduct has contributed to improvements in energy performance, operational efficiency and infrastructure resilience. The study analyses the relationship between data centre energy demand, efficiency gains and the carbon intensity of the electricity supply, highlighting the challenges faced by operators in regions where grid electricity remains partially dependent on fossil-fuel-based generation.
The case study demonstrates how energy-efficiency measures can reduce electricity consumption and associated emissions while enhancing the reliability of critical digital infrastructure. It also provides insights into the growing importance of securing reliable low-carbon electricity sources to support future digital growth and meet increasingly ambitious sustainability targets.
Beyond the operational performance of a single facility, the paper explores broader decarbonisation pathways for data centres in West Africa. These include renewable and low-carbon power procurement strategies, supportive regulatory frameworks, carbon pricing mechanisms and green financing instruments that can accelerate investment in sustainable digital infrastructure. The analysis also considers the potential future role of electricity generated from facilities equipped with Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technologies, particularly in markets where dispatchable low-carbon power may be required to complement renewable energy and ensure grid reliability.
The findings demonstrate that implementation of the European Code of Conduct extends beyond technical optimisation. It provides a practical framework for improving energy performance, reducing emissions and preparing data centres for a low-carbon future. The lessons learned from the Lomé Data Centre offer valuable insights for policymakers, investors and operators seeking to support the sustainable expansion of digital infrastructure while advancing broader energy-transition and decarbonisation objectives across Sub-Saharan Africa.