# Digital Realty secures $1.4B in new data center leases

Digest AI · Hardware & Compute · published 2026-10-02T05:30:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/digital-realty-secures-1-4b-in-new-data-center-leases

## Summary

Digital Realty, a major data center landlord, reported strong demand in the second quarter. The company signed leases worth **$1.4 billion annually** in base rent, a record for its portfolio. It also saw a **25.4% cash increase** on renewal leases, reflecting AI-driven growth in server housing needs.

Digital Realty operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT), providing stable income and capital appreciation. Its success stems from AI companies’ reliance on reliable power and network connectivity. The company’s customers rarely switch providers due to the high cost and disruption of relocating servers. Meanwhile, a U.S. Department of Energy report projects data center electricity use could rise from **4.4% in 2023** to **6.7–12% by 2028**, driven by AI expansion.

## Key points

- Digital Realty signed leases totaling $1.4B in annualized base rent, a record for Q2
- Renewal leases rose 25.4% in cash value, showing strong AI-driven demand
- U.S. data centers may consume 6.7–12% of electricity by 2028, per DOE report

## Why it matters

Digital Realty’s growth highlights the infrastructure backbone of AI’s expansion, with data centers consuming an increasing share of power. Investors in real estate and energy sectors should track its leasing trends as AI demand accelerates.

## Sources

1. [Forget Microsoft: You don’t need Big Tech to invest in the AI data center boom](https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/forget-microsoft-don-t-big-173300884.html) (finance.yahoo.com, 2026-10-02)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Digital Realty secures $1.4B in new data center leases", 2 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/digital-realty-secures-1-4b-in-new-data-center-leases

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