The modern data center is the backbone of the digital era. In a world where explosive data volumes are increasingly the norm, rather than the exception, across industries, data centers are the hubs where this ‘new age oil’ is stored, managed, and processed.
However, like all great things in life, this too comes at a cost.
Data centers, almost without exception, are significant consumers of (often non-renewable) energy, contributing to large-scale carbon emissions and a growing resource scarcity. The International Energy Agency assessed this at two percent of global electricity usage in 2022, a massive 460 terawatt-hours. For perspective, the Hoover Dam produces about 2,000 megawatt-hours of electricity – so it will take more than 220,000 of such powerhouses to continue powering the ongoing data revolution.
And this was just in 2022.
Redefining Energy Efficiency in Data Centers
With a rise in focus on sustainability, global business are undergoing a radical transformation toward revitalizing and upholding their commitment to sustainability. Through new technologies, including the use of more power efficient designs and cooling systems, and smarter, more-energy efficient chips, we are witnessing the rise of new standards across energy efficiency and minimized environmental impact.
Energy efficiency constitutes the core of the green transformation focus across data centers. With legacy data centers continuing to operate on (often) outdated and energy-intensive cooling systems, there is an urgent need for less resource-heavy alternatives. Resolving to this challenge requires pushing the boundaries of data center design and operation, scaling the frontiers of the energy-efficient infrastructure domain.
By integrating advanced environmental monitoring tools, dynamic energy distribution systems, and an optimized layout for better airflow management, modern data center architectures are not only helping minimize energy wastage but enhancing hardware performance and operational reliability. Microsoft, a leading participant in the domain, is pioneering the use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) in data center construction. The tech major’s hybrid approach reduces the embodied carbon footprint for data centers by up to 65% compared to traditional concrete. Intel, in collaboration with RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden), is developing advanced liquid cooling and heat removal technologies for global data centers.
These technological breakthroughs are some examples of ongoing innovations that are enabling global businesses leveraging massive data centers to lower their power bills, foster resilience against rising energy prices and minimize their overall environmental impact.
Energy efficiency, however, is only a piece of the sustainability puzzle.
Superior Liquid Cooling Technologies
Data centers generate heat when servers and other hardware components work around the clock. Cooling this equipment, traditionally, requires air conditioning systems that demand vast amounts of energy and water.
Enter liquid cooling technology – an innovation that is transforming thermal management across data centers.
Amazon’s (AWS’) advanced cooling systems for data centers are an instance of refinements in the domain, enabling a massive reduction in environmental impact as compared to traditional data centers. And Microsoft’s new zero-water design for data centers, with closed-loop liquid cooling, is projected to reduce water consumption by 125 million liters annually per data center by eliminating the need for water evaporation for cooling.
These sustainable and highly efficient solutions demonstrate how bold engineering can address some of the industry’s toughest environmental challenges. For hyperscalers, edge computing needs, and IoT infrastructure requirements, liquid cooling, therefore, has come to represent a major leap in operational excellence.
Focusing on Renewable Energy
The integration of renewable energy sources is no longer an optional extra for data centers. It is increasingly a necessity for meeting increasingly stricter environmental regulations and net-zero emission targets. What the rise of renewable-powered data centers exhibit is, therefore, a firm commitment to the circular economy, where sustainability is treated as both a business driver and an ethical necessity.
Powering state-of-the-art data centers with renewable energies enables:
- Carbon Footprint Minimization: Data centers implementing renewable energy see substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, to the extent of enabling up to 70% carbon emission reduction compared to traditional setups.
- Operational Savings Over Time: Once renewable systems are deployed, operational energy costs decline significantly, driving predictable energy expenses and offsetting initial capital investments in renewable infrastructure.
- Resilience and Reliability: Coupled with advanced energy storage solutions, renewable-powered centers ensure energy reliability during grid outages or demand surges.
Cyber-securing the Data Centers
While the focus on ensuring greener data centers continues to take centerstage, it is also necessary that we ensure reliable cybersecurity across data center operations. With Amazon tracking about 750 million potential threats in just H1 of CY24, securing the data and digital infrastructure from cyberattacks is crucial, especially with the growing interconnectedness of global data centers with the expanding smart cities and spaces landscape.
To cite an illustrative instance of the scenario, we need look no further than Intel’s campus in Israel, considered as one of the smartest facilities in the world. Equipped with over 14,000 sensors generating about 50 terabytes of data per day – imagine what would happen if the data center handling the operations at this 800,000 square feet facility went offline due to a cyberattack. And when we look at the expansive world of crucial operational technologies (OT) and infrastructure that is connected every day to the digital ecosystem, the threat perception is very real and nearer to home than ever before.
Expanding Beyond Environmental Gains
While energy efficiency, liquid cooling, and renewable energy sources help in the achievement of substantial environmental benefits, their impact extends well beyond sustainability metrics. Businesses adopting these innovations are better positioned to optimize costs, enhance performance, and cultivate a competitive edge in saturated markets with a secure data-led outlook.
Consider the growing deployment of private 5G networks, valued at a potential impact of USD 1.3 trillion by 2030, and high-performance computing applications requiring enormous computing capabilities. The new age data centers are primed to cater to such needs with advanced hardware support and sustainable scalability. Other key use cases, including enabling large-scale IoT platforms, enhanced real-time data computing, and decentralized asset management, are some further instances that underscore the expanding reach and impact of data center offerings. This is especially when combined with advanced technologies, including server virtualization, AI-powered monitoring, hybrid cloud deployments, and precision timing solutions.
I feel that going ahead, the next-gen green data centers will continue to rapidly adopt key aspects of breakthrough technologies, especially in AI, predictive analytics, and automation. These integrations, often seamless, will transform the existing data center solutions for greater real-time performance optimization and scalability.
Enhanced environmental stewardship will increasingly be the norm rather than the exception for global businesses. And green data centers will be a key component of this journey. By reconnecting purpose with profits, our shared future will continue to be powered by innovative, breakthrough technologies and a shared commitment toward a more sustainable world.
Together, let us make a difference today, for a better tomorrow for all.
