Energy-efficiency focus to shift to IT — at last

Data centers have become victims of their own success. Ever-larger data centers have mushroomed across the globe in line with an apparently insatiable demand for computing and storage capacity. The associated energy use is not only expensive (and generating massive carbon emissions) but is also putting pressure on the grid. Most data center developments tend to be concentrated in and around metropolitan areas — making their presence even more palpable and attracting scrutiny.

Despite major achievements in energy performance throughout the 2010s — as witnessed by Uptime data on industry-average PUE — this has created challenges for data center builders and operators. Delivering bulletproof and energy-efficient infrastructure at a competitive cost is already a difficult balancing act, even without having to engage with local government, regulators and the public at large on energy use, environmental impact and carbon footprint.