Hetzner has completed an internal audit of renewable energy claims across our industry peers. Their findings indicate systemic misalignment between marketing language and infrastructure reality.
Key observations:
- REC purchases allow fossil-dependent grids to claim carbon neutrality
- PUE metrics exclude embodied carbon in hardware manufacturing
- Location-shopping obscures actual power generation mix
They operate multiple facilities. Some draw from municipal grids with significant natural gas baseline. Some facilities use on-site solar with battery backup.
My position: Badge programs create perverse incentives. They do not display third-party green certifications.
I've been with them two years, mostly Falkenstein and Nuremberg boxes.