Some operators are using natural gas for on-site power where the local grid is constrained. This will increase their emissions — but gas is essential in the transition to renewable energy and operators’ use of it is best seen in this light.
Peter is a Senior Research Analyst at Uptime Intelligence. His expertise includes sustainability, energy efficiency, power and cooling in data centers. He has been a technology journalist for 30 years and has specialized in data centers for the past 10 years.
pjudge@uptimeinstitute.com
Some operators are using natural gas for on-site power where the local grid is constrained. This will increase their emissions — but gas is essential in the transition to renewable energy and operators’ use of it is best seen in this light.
Data center operators are already required to reduce their impact on the climate and soon they may have to do the same with local habitats. Emerging nature restoration rules will demand action to preserve ecosystems and biodiversity.
Hydrogen is a promising energy storage medium that can help decarbonize infrastructure. It is not a great fit for the majority of data centers, and the hydrogen economy is not fully developed.
The 14th edition of the Uptime Institute Global Data Center Survey highlights the experiences and strategies of data center owners and operators in the areas of resiliency, sustainability, efficiency, staffing, cloud and AI.
According to a recent court ruling, European organizations are required to charge value added tax (VAT) on waste heat that they give away for free. This calls into question the economics of waste heat reuse.
In response to stronger environmental legislation, data center operators in European countries are making greater investments in data center efficiency — as well as increasing their reporting.
Li-ion batteries have many benefits but may have been adopted without sufficient risk analysis. Following serious data center fires, operators should be aware of the risk of damage, potential regulations and the costs of safety mitigation.
Hyperscalers use DC busbars in their racks. Proven at large scale, the technology saves energy and materials, but without a market for DC servers that meets the needs of smaller operators and enterprises, no one else will use it.
Electric grids face serious issues largely because of national efforts to reduce carbon emissions and boost electrification. Data center growth will add to these problems — but unreliable data could lead to poor decision-making.