Data Centres have a serious energy problem...

In partnership with

Hi!

One week into the new year, the sustainable tech space is already filled with some incredible news. This week I wanted to dive into a topic that’s a growing concern across the climate space (especially thanks to the AI boom), and that’s data centres and cloud computing.

We all know that cloud computing is the backbone of our digital lives. Whilst this is great and supports our growing demand to stream and store all kinds of services, most of us are aware that the data centres and infrastructure behind the cloud require incredibly vast amounts of energy to power and cool their labyrinths of servers.

According to this report from the International Energy Agency, data centres are already accounting for well over 1% of all global electricity demand. With the rise of AI, alongside the steady growth of streaming platforms and social media sites, it's clear that we're not getting rid of data centres anytime soon.

It's a problem now so significant that some research is suggesting carbon emissions from data centres now rivals the aviation industry. Which leads to the question, what on earth are we going to do about them?

The major players like Google, Microsoft and Amazon have floated a range of solutions including net-zero policies, sustainable building practices and AI driven energy management systems. Whilst these are all great on paper, it’s hard to see these stacking up against t all solutions being touted to combat the fact their services are out-polluting small countries.

A more promising update from big tech is the relatively new plans to expand into Nuclear energy to power data centres. Whilst nuclear has a relatively slow speed to ramp up, it’s a great start and once there will ensure that data centres are truly “clean”, rather than being backed up by carbon-offsetting as has historically been the case with large companies net-zero claims or targets.

Outside big tech, there are a numerous companies working on innovative ways to solve this problem, with some of my favourites including:

• Lumen Orbit are looking to move data centres to space. Yes, seriously. It sounds like a wild idea, but with access to 24/7 solar and simplified cooling, you can see the logic behind it. They closed a $10M seed round last year oversubscribed with backers including Nvidia, so there is some serious backing to make this a reality!

  

• Nautilus are a Texas based firm that are developing some of the most environmentally friendly databases on the planet through their own zero-water systems that literally float on seawater! Highly recommend checking them out.

  

• Green Mountain Data Centres have a number of data centres across Norway that are located underground for natural cooling, which massively reduces energy need, although to top that off they also use 100% renewable hydroelectric energy for the energy they do need!

  

All in, it’s completely understandable why many people are concerned about data centres within the context of the climate movement. However I think it’s fair to say that data centres aren’t going away anytime soon (except maybe to space😉) so this is a problem that we need technology to solve, rather than policy or consumer demand.

If the innovators get the attention and support they need, I think we’ll see data centres become a shining example of how a carbon intensive industry can turn itself around and continue powering our lives, without destroying the climate!

Please do let me know what you think will happen, I’d love to hear other takes!

Thanks for reading as always, catch you next week!
James

Start learning AI in 2025

Everyone talks about AI, but no one has the time to learn it. So, we found the easiest way to learn AI in as little time as possible: The Rundown AI.

It's a free AI newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on the latest AI news, and teaches you how to apply it in just 5 minutes a day.

Plus, complete the quiz after signing up and they’ll recommend the best AI tools, guides, and courses – tailored to your needs.

Sign up to start learning.