Current Hydro Signs Hydropower Deal with Digital Realty
Three Ohio River projects totaling nearly 70 MW will deliver clean, baseload renewable energy to power data centers
Pittsburgh, PA – September 15, 2025 – Current Hydro LLC, a leading U.S. hydropower developer, announced today that it has signed long-term Renewable Energy Purchase Agreements with Digital Realty (NYSE: DLR), the largest global provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions.
The agreements cover three new hydroelectric projects along the Ohio River— the New Cumberland Hydroelectric Project (Hancock County, WV), Pike Island Hydroelectric Project (Belmont County, OH), and Robert C. Byrd Hydroelectric Project (Mason County, WV). Together, the facilities represent nearly 70 megawatts (MW) of clean, baseload hydropower capacity, with commercial operations expected in 2029 across the portfolio.
Unlike intermittent renewables, run-of-release hydropower provides around-the-clock, carbon-free electricity, directly supporting Digital Realty’s mission to decarbonize its global data center operations and deliver reliable, 24/7 sustainable energy to its customers.
“This partnership with Digital Realty is a major milestone for Current Hydro,” said Jeremy King, CEO of Current Hydro. “By developing hydropower at existing dams in an environmentally responsible and sustainable way, we’re able to deliver long-term, dependable carbon free energy to the grid while creating lasting benefits for local communities in Ohio and West Virginia.”
“New Cumberland, Pike Island, and RC Byrd are just the beginning,” added Nick Stork, Founder of Conifer Infrastructure Partners and Board Member of Current Hydro. “These first projects launch our broader portfolio on the Ohio River and beyond, and we’re proud to partner with a global leader like Digital Realty to demonstrate the role hydropower can play in powering data center growth with sustainable, baseload energy.”
A smart, low-impact way to harness the Ohio River
The three projects will modernize existing lock-and-dam infrastructure, adding clean generation without the need for new dams or major ecological disruption. This approach ensures a cost-effective, reliable, and environmentally sound path to expand renewable energy capacity in the PJM market.
Once operational, the facilities will deliver renewable electricity and associated environmental attributes directly to Digital Realty, providing both the buyer and seller with long-term certainty to meet their business and climate goals.
About Current Hydro
Current Hydro is a U.S.-based hydropower developer advancing a portfolio of low-impact, run-of-river projects on the Ohio River and beyond. By integrating power generation into existing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ infrastructure, Current Hydro delivers 24/7 carbon-free electricity while creating local jobs, tax revenues, and community benefits. The company is committed to responsible development that balances environmental stewardship and economic growth. Current Hydro is wholly owned by Conifer Infrastructure Partners, a U.S.-based infrastructure investment firm.
About Digital Realty
Digital Realty brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL®, the company’s global data center platform, provides customers with a secure data meeting place and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx®) solution methodology for powering innovation, from cloud and digital transformation to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges. Digital Realty gives its customers access to the connected data communities that matter to them with a global data center footprint of 300+ facilities in 50+ metros across 25+ countries on six continents. To learn more about Digital Realty, please visit digitalrealty.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X.