By Ruari Cairns, Director of Risk Management and European Operations, True (powered by Open Energy Market).
In recent years, the data centre industry has witnessed significant growth and innovation, with notable developments such as Google’s £1 billion investment in a new data centre in Hertfordshire and Octopus Energy’s commitment to utilising energy from processing centres to heat swimming pools.
These advancements underscore the industry’s critical role in supporting our increasingly digitalised world. Since 2010, demand for digital services has increased rapidly with the number of global internet users more than doubling, and internet traffic increasing 25-fold, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Data centres serve as the backbone of digital infrastructure, providing the necessary storage, processing, and connectivity to not only allow day-to-day activity, but also to enable businesses to innovate, improve efficiency, and stay competitive in an increasingly digital age.
The environmental impact of data centres
Data centres are undeniably energy-intensive operations. A report from the IEA reveals that data centres and data transmission networks collectively accounted for approximately 330 Mt CO2 equivalent in 2020.
Despite their environmental footprint, data centres are indispensable. Therefore, innovation is vital to decarbonise and make this sector more energy efficient.
Challenges surrounding sustainability
Encouragingly, major corporations are placing greater emphasis on environmental credentials. A prime example is Google Cloud, which has committed to achieving a carbon-neutral footprint and transitioning to completely carbon-free energy across all its global data centres by 2030. This ambitious target highlights the growing demand for sustainable solutions in the sector.
However, regardless of the growing emphasis, data centres face significant challenges in achieving these green objectives.
Balancing energy procurement during operational ramp-up periods and navigating regulatory complexities pose strategic hurdles. The insatiable demand for data presents capacity issues and strains on energy availability, necessitating innovation and collaboration for a greener future.
Looking ahead to the next 12-18 months, not only will the data centre industry face pressures around sustainability, but it also may encounter capacity constraints and energy availability challenges.
Power purchase agreements
To achieve sustainability goals, data centres will adopt various strategies in 2024, including securing long-term PPAs for renewable energy procurement. With PPAs, data centres enter into agreements with renewable energy providers to ensure a consistent and sustainable source of electricity.
According to a report by BloombergNEF, corporate PPAs for renewable energy reached a record of 23.7 gigawatts in 2020, with data centres being one of the key sectors driving this growth. This trend is likely to continue to grow, with more data centres looking for reliable green energy sources.
Energy audits
It is also important that data centres increase the regularity with which they perform energy audits. Energy audits identify areas of high energy consumption and support data centres to implement energy-efficient measures. This can include optimising server utilisation, upgrading to energy-efficient hardware, and implementing advanced cooling technologies.
According to a study, commissioned by the US Department of Energy, energy audits can lead to energy savings of up to 30%.
Infrastructure design
Data centres will continue to prioritise energy efficiency in their infrastructure design into 2024. This includes using energy-efficient servers, cooling systems, and power distribution units. Advanced cooling technologies, such as liquid cooling, will also gain traction to improve energy efficiency.
Advanced systems and infrastructure can support data centres to optimise cooling operations by adjusting cooling levels based on heat loads and demand. This minimises overcooling and ensures resources are used more efficiently.
In some cases, cooling systems use up to 40% of the total energy a data centre needs. By implementing advanced, green, cooling technologies, data centres can make substantial and critical energy and carbon savings.
Onsite generation
Due to the growing concerns about grid capacity, data centres will increasingly invest in on-site energy generation technologies. This will be primarily through solar and wind turbines, as these are easily tailored to each location’s needs. By generating their own clean energy, data centres can reduce their dependence on the grid and minimise their carbon footprint.
Highlighting this point, Google recently signed its first PPA in Ireland for a 58-megawatt solar site to help its offices and data centre in Ireland reach 60% carbon-free energy in 2025. The trend will continue this way as more data centres seek the security that comes with onsite generation.
Conclusion
As the digital revolution accelerates, the sustainability of data centres becomes key. By prioritising sustainability, navigating regulatory challenges, and adopting strategic energy procurement strategies, data centres can pave the way for a greener and more resilient future. Collaboration between industry stakeholders and government support will be pivotal in driving collective progress towards a sustainable data centre ecosystem.
The post A sustainable future for data centres appeared first on Data Centre & Network News.
By Ruari Cairns, Director of Risk Management and European Operations, True (powered by Open Energy Market).
In recent years, the data centre industry has witnessed significant growth and innovation, with notable developments such as Google’s £1 billion investment in a new data centre in Hertfordshire and Octopus Energy’s commitment to utilising energy from processing centres to heat swimming pools.
These advancements underscore the industry’s critical role in supporting our increasingly digitalised world. Since 2010, demand for digital services has increased rapidly with the number of global internet users more than doubling, and internet traffic increasing 25-fold, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Data centres serve as the backbone of digital infrastructure, providing the necessary storage, processing, and connectivity to not only allow day-to-day activity, but also to enable businesses to innovate, improve efficiency, and stay competitive in an increasingly digital age.
The environmental impact of data centres
Data centres are undeniably energy-intensive operations. A report from the IEA reveals that data centres and data transmission networks collectively accounted for approximately 330 Mt CO2 equivalent in 2020.
Despite their environmental footprint, data centres are indispensable. Therefore, innovation is vital to decarbonise and make this sector more energy efficient.
Challenges surrounding sustainability
Encouragingly, major corporations are placing greater emphasis on environmental credentials. A prime example is Google Cloud, which has committed to achieving a carbon-neutral footprint and transitioning to completely carbon-free energy across all its global data centres by 2030. This ambitious target highlights the growing demand for sustainable solutions in the sector.
However, regardless of the growing emphasis, data centres face significant challenges in achieving these green objectives.
Balancing energy procurement during operational ramp-up periods and navigating regulatory complexities pose strategic hurdles. The insatiable demand for data presents capacity issues and strains on energy availability, necessitating innovation and collaboration for a greener future.
Looking ahead to the next 12-18 months, not only will the data centre industry face pressures around sustainability, but it also may encounter capacity constraints and energy availability challenges.
Power purchase agreements
To achieve sustainability goals, data centres will adopt various strategies in 2024, including securing long-term PPAs for renewable energy procurement. With PPAs, data centres enter into agreements with renewable energy providers to ensure a consistent and sustainable source of electricity.
According to a report by BloombergNEF, corporate PPAs for renewable energy reached a record of 23.7 gigawatts in 2020, with data centres being one of the key sectors driving this growth. This trend is likely to continue to grow, with more data centres looking for reliable green energy sources.
Energy audits
It is also important that data centres increase the regularity with which they perform energy audits. Energy audits identify areas of high energy consumption and support data centres to implement energy-efficient measures. This can include optimising server utilisation, upgrading to energy-efficient hardware, and implementing advanced cooling technologies.
According to a study, commissioned by the US Department of Energy, energy audits can lead to energy savings of up to 30%.
Infrastructure design
Data centres will continue to prioritise energy efficiency in their infrastructure design into 2024. This includes using energy-efficient servers, cooling systems, and power distribution units. Advanced cooling technologies, such as liquid cooling, will also gain traction to improve energy efficiency.
Advanced systems and infrastructure can support data centres to optimise cooling operations by adjusting cooling levels based on heat loads and demand. This minimises overcooling and ensures resources are used more efficiently.
In some cases, cooling systems use up to 40% of the total energy a data centre needs. By implementing advanced, green, cooling technologies, data centres can make substantial and critical energy and carbon savings.
Onsite generation
Due to the growing concerns about grid capacity, data centres will increasingly invest in on-site energy generation technologies. This will be primarily through solar and wind turbines, as these are easily tailored to each location’s needs. By generating their own clean energy, data centres can reduce their dependence on the grid and minimise their carbon footprint.
Highlighting this point, Google recently signed its first PPA in Ireland for a 58-megawatt solar site to help its offices and data centre in Ireland reach 60% carbon-free energy in 2025. The trend will continue this way as more data centres seek the security that comes with onsite generation.
Conclusion
As the digital revolution accelerates, the sustainability of data centres becomes key. By prioritising sustainability, navigating regulatory challenges, and adopting strategic energy procurement strategies, data centres can pave the way for a greener and more resilient future. Collaboration between industry stakeholders and government support will be pivotal in driving collective progress towards a sustainable data centre ecosystem.
The post A sustainable future for data centres appeared first on Data Centre & Network News.