Africa’s digital economy is expanding at a remarkable pace. From mobile banking and cloud computing to the growth of e-commerce and enterprise systems, nearly every online service now relies on the data centres that power the continent’s digital infrastructure. Yet these facilities are highly energy-intensive, and across much of Africa, electricity is expensive and often unreliable.
For operators, energy efficiency has become a strategic priority. Herman Mare, General Manager: Protection and Control at ACTOM, says the conversation has moved well beyond technical performance. “Energy efficiency is no longer only an engineering concern,” says Mare. “It plays a direct role in maintaining uptime, managing operating costs and ensuring long-term sustainability.”
The growing stakes of digital demand
Clinton Vieira, Business Development: Data Centres for Sub-Saharan Africa at ACTOM, notes that the stakes are rising as Africa’s digital demand accelerates. Data centres form the backbone of the modern economy. To support the next wave of digital services across the continent, operators need energy strategies that strengthen resilience while keeping operations cost-effective.
Electricity remains the single largest operating cost for most data centres. In many African markets, power infrastructure is ageing or unreliable, forcing operators to rely on backup generation to keep facilities online. “Power instability adds complexity to data centre operations,” Vieira explains. Every disruption or inefficiency directly affects costs and the reliability customers expect.
Turning energy challenges into opportunities
Despite these challenges, Mare believes the situation also presents an opportunity. Operators who address energy efficiency strategically can reduce energy losses, improve reliability and operate far more efficiently. These improvements translate into stronger, more sustainable operations.
One of the most effective ways to improve efficiency starts with electrical infrastructure. Medium-voltage (MV) systems deliver power more efficiently than traditional low-voltage connections, reducing energy losses across the facility. “Medium-voltage infrastructure allows power to be distributed far more effectively,” says Mare. It also enables redundancy by providing multiple feeds from different substations, so that if one power source fails, the facility can continue operating.
Infrastructure as a foundation for growth
According to Mare, this type of investment also prepares facilities for future innovation. Medium-voltage systems provide the foundation for integrating intelligent monitoring and renewable energy solutions, enabling data centres to scale alongside the digital economy.
Infrastructure alone is not enough. Visibility of energy use is equally important. Modern monitoring systems enable operators to track energy consumption across their facilities in real time. “When operators can see exactly how energy flows through their systems, they can make far better decisions,” says Vieira. Data helps them identify inefficiencies, anticipate problems, and optimise performance.
Real-time insight and predictive maintenance
Real-time insight enables equipment such as transformers, batteries, or generators to be deployed where they are needed. It also changes how maintenance is approached. Instead of reacting to equipment failures, operators can anticipate when intervention is required and act before problems escalate.
This visibility is particularly valuable in regions where technical expertise may be concentrated in specific areas. With remote monitoring, engineers can analyse system performance from anywhere and support on-site teams as needed.
Building resilience with hybrid energy
Renewable and hybrid energy solutions are also becoming an important part of the energy mix for African data centres. Solar, wind and battery storage can provide stability where the grid supply is unreliable.
“Renewable energy is not only about sustainability,” says Mare. It also improves operational resilience. When paired with renewable systems, robust electrical infrastructure and intelligent monitoring add an extra layer of reliability.
Hybrid energy models can also reduce reliance on diesel generators while lowering operating costs and carbon emissions.
Efficiency as a competitive advantage
Improving energy efficiency strengthens the overarching business model for data centres. Lower operating costs, improved reliability and stronger infrastructure make facilities more attractive to global investors and digital service providers.
Mare believes the decisions operators make today will shape the industry’s future. Demand for digital infrastructure will continue to grow, and operators who invest in efficient electrical systems, intelligent monitoring and integrated energy strategies will lead the market.
As Africa’s digital economy grows, the infrastructure supporting it must evolve too. When energy systems are intelligently designed, from medium-voltage infrastructure to monitoring and renewables, data centres become stronger and better prepared for the future.