The UK Government’s blueprint to turbocharge artificial intelligence (AI) adoption is a welcome and necessary step to ensure the country can embrace the technology. However, its adoption comes with an issue that cannot be ignored: AI’s power demands.
Data centres’ demand for electricity in the UK is set to rise six-fold in just 10 years. This is fuelled largely by advanced AI systems, which require significantly more energy than traditional data processing tasks. For instance, a single AI query consumes about 2.9 watt-hours (Wh) – ten times more energy than a standard Google search. This presents a challenge for the Government as the UK already faces significant grid congestion. Strategies must therefore be put in place to ensure an increase in data centre demand does not overwhelm the grid’s ability to reliably deliver power to everyone.
However, data centre operators face more than just the challenge of meeting rising energy demands; sustainability is also a critical concern, as shown by new environmental reporting mandates. Both the UK’s Climate Change Act and the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting framework require operators to report their energy use and carbon emissions. Meaning attention will also be on the progress they are making towards decarbonisation.
These dual priorities present a dilemma for data centre operators: in a world where fossil-fuelled energy predominates, how can data centres meet surging AI demands without compromising sustainability?
Renewable energy integration
Much of the answer lies in the availability and expansion of clean energy generation on the grid to support the design and build of data centres. Data centres are not the root cause of energy supply tightness. However, they highlight the need for increased investment in renewable energy and grid modernisation.
While some regions have made impressive strides in adopting clean energy over 90% of European centres operators report being obstructed by power availability and grid congestion. Therefore new, and important targets, such as the EU’s demand for 42.5% of its energy to come from renewable sources, must be complemented with strategies to ensure grids can incorporate these new sources.
Data centres as grid partners
Current grid inefficiencies mean there is often a mismatch between where renewable energy is generated and where it is needed. As AI-driven energy demand grows, there is potential for it to exceed the grid’s ability to supply or manage sufficient sustainable power. But, while AI demand contributes to the challenge, data centres can also play a central role in boosting that stability.
Doing so requires changing the perception of data centres as solely major consumers of energy and instead seeing them as ‘prosumers’. This means calling on data centres to store, manage and deliver energy to the grid too.
Through innovative approaches and technologies, achieving this title is becoming simpler for those in the industry. For instance, operators can now take advantage of demand response technology – such as Eaton’s EnergyAware. This capability builds on existing Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems, to enable data centres to act as an energy resource.
In other words, data centres with grid-interactive UPS technology will be able to act as energy reserves during peak demand, supporting the grid at critical times and integrating renewable resources, aligning operational demands with sustainability goals. At the same time, the UPS retains its primary function as a backup power source for the data centre, prioritising system continuity.
Addressing the data centre power dilemma
The stakes are high. Failure to address the data centre power dilemma effectively could have far-reaching consequences, not just for the data centre industry but for the UK economy and the success of the Government’s AI plan.
The application of dynamic power solutions, such as grid-interactive UPS technologies, represents a clear step towards addressing the power dilemma. By enabling data centres to be both active consumers and producers of renewable energy, the industry can reduce strain on the grid and advance the UK’s sustainability goals.
However, while dynamic power solutions have an important part to play in the energy transition, they need to form part of a wider strategy. One which encourages the increased integration of renewable energy, and the delivery of a supporting infrastructure. Responsibility for this strategy falls on both government and industry taking a collaborative approach to delivering progress.
The data centre industry has already repeatedly committed to a zero-carbon future and is ready to work with all stakeholders to make this a reality. By taking decisive action now, the UK can power both its AI ambitions and a more sustainable digital future.
