Data centers are a hot topic in renewable energy discourse. Big data proves data center renewable energy is the key to decentralized energy generation and distribution, making it the next shiny new buzzphrase of 2023’s energy revolution.
Modern expectations require data centers to be energy sinks, but they can also be powerhouses by generating more power and capturing what they would otherwise lose by running constantly. For passionate environmentalists and industry tech professionals to see their data center dreams become tangible, the data has to align with realistic expectations – because data center renewable energy is not limitless.
What Are the Limitations of Sourcing from Data Centers?
With most big tech companies catching wind – literally and figuratively – of how damaging their electronic hubs are, many have embraced sustainability strategies already. While several data centers are running at 100% renewable energy, what is keeping everyone from switching for the long haul?
The first limit is the types of renewable energy compatible with data centers. Hydropower is not practical because of safety concerns and most data centers are not near water. Biomass is another impracticality – burning organic materials seems ideal for small outfits, but data centers use too much energy. Growing materials for data centers could also disrupt entire agricultural economies. That leaves wind, solar and geothermal as the most valuable players, and even they are not unstoppable.
Inconsistency is a question. High-octane outfits like data centers will need multiple renewable energy resources to run efficiently with no outages, meaning an expensive solar and wind array to complement each other when there are clouds or zero winds. Essential facilities like hospitals need to power on their equipment within 10 seconds, so trust is paramount. Renewables can generate enough megawatts to power communities, but it is a small change compared to a data center’s healthy energy diet.
Geothermal is reliable. However, most prominent tech companies would rather pay for solar panels than an entire geothermal power setup, regardless of its security – extra heat also means paying for additional cooling systems. It also prompts companies to consider how much land they will have to purchase and use on top of the monstrous data center.
How Can These Limits Impact Grid Modernization?
The tech and renewable energy sector must hold out because solutions exist to these limits. Professionals cannot talk about data center renewable energy without sneaking into talks of grid modernization. Data centers could be distributed energy resources because of their renewable potential, invigorating smart grid adoption.
The potential for data centers to manage and control energy distribution urges infrastructure to continue investing time and resources into renewable energy storage options like batteries and edge networking. Renewable storage bridges the world of data centers and grid updates because it solves everyone’s problems.
Renewable energy can only get its reputation if it is efficient, financially and practically – this means no wasted resources. Solar panels have a habit of losing residual heat. Wind power can only reach the Betz limit of efficiency – a potential 59.3% at most. So, the power households and corporations generate must pool together because some places and situations are perfect for collecting additional stores.
Plus, finding temperature regulation solutions must happen for the grid and data centers. Liquid cooling is a novel solution to help reduce energy consumption and expenditure in toasty data centers. Still, cost-competitive IoT and other energy management solutions must collaborate to make the dream team. Machine learning and big data can automate energy regulation and adjustments – a non-negotiable for data center renewable energy.
Does the Adverse Impact of Data Centers Limit Them More?
The industry might as well be blunt about the adverse environmental impact of data centers – they are responsible for 1% of the world’s emissions, which will only rise as people rely more on them. The negative reputation will make the uphill battle to implement renewable energy more labor-intensive because not only does the energy generation have to power the place, but it also has to undo the damage it has historically caused. The rocky road might cause inconsistent investors and skeptical transitions.
Some experts may argue these conditions limit them further because they have more to take care of in the grander climate conversation, such as achieving net zero emissions or implementing carbon capture. If technological maneuvering reveals a perfect combination, it could revolutionize more tech powerhouses outside data centers.
Optimists choose to advocate the limits to empower the data center industry because it catalyzes new energy solutions. Creativity is motivating professionals at a pace never before seen in the sector, resulting in:
- Colocation: Facilities that house more than one company’s hardware to minimize the need for energy- and resource-intensive new builds that could use more power than the organization needs.
- Microgrids: Localized power distribution systems that can begin a renewable energy revolution without waiting for large-scale grid modernization. These microgrids can be isolated from the primary grid or operate independently.
- Green cloud computing: Cloud computing relies on fewer data center resources than legacy storage, but they still need data centers. Green providers reduce emissions and waste by reducing reliance on powerful hardware.
- Modular data centers: Streamlines supply chains and manufacturing by creating design standardizations for data center hardware. These help by making repairs universal and cheaper, and installation more versatile.
These will supplement renewable efforts because they all reduce waste, energy and resources from multiple fronts. Energy inefficiency may be a significant plague to data centers, but it is vital to remember the rest of the sustainability narrative when reimagining it for a green future.
Ultimately, the goal is onsite power. Data centers should not have Scope 2 carbon emissions from third-party utility providers if they want to optimize their renewable contribution. Operators are contracting clean energy until they can be energy independent and data centers are leveraging Power Purchase Agreements. In short, there is positive momentum to overcome the obstacles and the industry is proving its resourcefulness.
Capitalizing on the Power of Data Centers
Data centers have a bad reputation, but anything can have a green makeover. There are limits to sourcing renewable energy from data centers, but it reveals how humans can still improve renewable tech and streamline data center operations. Every boundary has hidden potential for technological advancement and innovation, which renewable energy can empower by partnering with data centers.
The post What Are the Limits of Sourcing Renewable Energy for Data Centers? appeared first on Datafloq.
