Data Center: 6 measures on Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

Data centers are the backbone of the digital era, and despite already consuming more than 1% of global electricity, the path to sustainability is set.

With the rise of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT), the demand for data processing and storage is growing at an unprecedented rate. However, this massive expansion brings significant challenges: energy consumption, efficient cooling, environmental impact, and adequate infrastructure.

IS THE WORLD READY TO KEEP UP WITH THIS ACCELERATED PACE?

Reducing energy consumption and the environmental impact of data centers are crucial challenges in the digital age. Regarding energy efficiency, several strategies can help mitigate this situation.

• Reducing the number of physical servers by using virtualization to maximize resource utilization and adopting energy-efficient servers are two key strategies, but the solutions don’t stop there.

• To improve cooling systems, two alternative methods can be used instead of traditional air conditioning. Free cooling, which cools servers when weather conditions allow; or water cooling, a method that involves immersing electronic components in a dielectric liquid, allowing direct contact with the equipment without the risk of short circuits.

• Investing in renewable energy to power data centers and offsetting consumption by purchasing clean energy credits can be excellent measures regarding renewable energy sources, but there are three other major strategies.

• Smart energy management can be enhanced by real-time monitoring through IoT sensors, which help adjust energy consumption. Additionally, modular data center construction is becoming increasingly popular, allowing for gradual expansion and optimizing energy use as infrastructure grows.

• Another strategy involves building data centers in naturally cold locations, such as Scandinavia, to reduce cooling needs and placing them near renewable energy sources to minimize transmission losses.

• Implementing smart strategies such as virtualization, advanced cooling, and integration with renewable energy sources is not just a necessity but an opportunity to redefine the future of digital infrastructure.

Technology is advancing, but it is up to us to ensure that this evolution is sustainable. The path to more efficient data centers is already laid out—those who follow it will not only reduce costs but also lead the transformation toward a greener and more responsible future.

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The Boom of Data Centers

The data center market in Europe has seen significant growth in recent years and projections indicate that this trend will continue. In 2024, the European data center market was expected to reach 12,23 thousand MW, with an annual growth rate of 7.96%, thus reaching more than 17,93 thousand MW by 2029.

It is estimated that there are over 8,000 data centers worldwide, the largest cluster being in Northern Virginia with over 300 data centers and an energy consumption capacity of 2,552MW.

Portugal, despite being pointed out as a hub and gateway to the world in terms of interconnection, has 35 data centers, although more investment in this sector is planned.

In Europe, the UK is the country with the biggest environmental footprint. The data centers operating out of London require 1,053 MW. On the same list, the second European city with the most installed capacity is Frankfurt, with 864 MW.

Globally, the second region with the most computing capacity is Beijing, with 1,799 MW, which remains the only Asian city to need more than 1,000 MW to power its data centers. The data centers already installed in Tokyo, for example, consume 865 MW.

DATA CENTERS: CAN THE WORLD KEEP UP?

This growth is driven by several factors, including the increased use of data, the growing demand for cloud computing services and the need for robust e-commerce systems. In addition, the expansion of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and edge computing is contributing to increasingly advanced data center infrastructures.

However, this growth brings with it significant challenges, especially with regard to energy consumption. According to the European Commission, data centers in Europe used 259 TWh of electricity by 2020, representing 1.7% of the world’s total energy consumption. With the market expected to generate 30 times more data over the next ten years, a corresponding increase in energy consumption is expected. Consequently, there is an increasing focus on reducing energy consumption, consolidating wide area networks (WAN) and bandwidth requirements, creating opportunities for the data center interconnection market.

Known as ‘the new vaults’ because they house servers and storage systems, data centers are physical infrastructures designed to store, process and distribute large volumes of data and digital applications. They support the IT operations of companies, governments and internet service providers.

Due to the high energy consumption and environmental impact, there is an increasing focus on the energy efficiency and sustainability of data centers, including the use of renewable sources and advanced cooling technologies.

The future of data centers in Europe looks promising, with continued growth driven by digitalisation and the adoption of new technologies. However, it will be crucial to address the challenges related to energy consumption and sustainability to ensure a balanced and responsible development of the sector.