Top 8 Innovations in Green Data Centers in 2024

It’s no secret that data centers, the backbone of the Internet, use a lot of energy and produce a lot of pollution.

In fact, data centers are major contributors to rising electricity demand worldwide, according to a recent report from the International Energy Agency.

“After globally consuming an estimated 460 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2022, data centers’ total electricity consumption could reach more than 1000 TWh in 2026,” according to the report.

“This demand is roughly equivalent to the electricity consumption of Japan.”

The report notes that technological improvements, in addition to updated regulations, will be key to reducing the surge in energy consumption from data centers.

If technology is the problem, it can also be the cure, as we explore below.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. 8 Innovations in Green Data Centers for Sustainable Computing
3. The Bottom Line
4. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. 8 Innovations in Green Data Centers for Sustainable Computing
3. The Bottom Line
Show Full Guide
4. References

8 Innovations in Green Data Centers for Sustainable Computing

8. Liquid Cooling

A liquid cooling system is like a big fan, but it uses liquid instead of air to cool computer equipment — a network of pipes that carries cold liquid around the data center.

This liquid runs alongside a hot computer, absorbs the heat, and then cools off before it returns to the circuit.

Because it cools servers more effectively than air, liquid cooling works faster and can help handle more data without overheating. This also saves energy and money by reducing the need for large air conditioning systems.

Liquid cooling is especially useful for high-performance computing because when servers are working really hard on tasks such as artificial intelligence (AI) or scientific research, the heat is on.

7. AI-Driven Energy Management

In a data center, many systems, such as servers, cooling units, and power supplies, are constantly running. And it’s important to manage these systems efficiently because they use massive amounts of energy. However, overseeing all the different systems that use energy in a data center at the same time is no easy feat.

Artificial intelligence makes this easier by analyzing data in real time. It predicts when the demand for energy will increase and makes necessary changes to the systems.

For example, if certain areas of the data center are less active, AI can automatically reduce cooling in those areas. This not only conserves energy but also helps cut down on costs. So, AI can help data centers save money and energy by using resources only when they’re needed.

6. Integrating Renewable Energy

Today, many data centers are switching to renewable energy, such as wind, solar, and water power. This is important because using renewable energy means data centers use less fossil fuel, a net positive for the environment.

Using renewable energy can also save money, as it can help keep energy costs steady. In addition, some data centers are built near renewable energy plants so they can use clean energy right away, reducing energy waste and costs.

Some data centers use batteries to store extra renewable energy to ensure they have enough. This helps keep the energy supply steady and reliable, even when renewable sources aren’t working as well — for example, on cloudy or calm days.

5. Virtualization Technology

Virtualization technology boosts data center efficiency by letting several virtual servers or virtual machines (VMs) run on one physical server. A software called a hypervisor manages this by sharing the physical resources, such as CPU, memory, and storage, between the virtual machines. This setup lets multiple programs run on one server, saving energy and space.

Virtualization also makes it easier to add or reduce resources as needed depending on demand and can simplify handling and recovering from problems. That’s because IT pros can quickly back up, restore, or move virtual machines between servers and manage everything from a central location using specialized tools. Overall, virtualization makes data centers run better, use less energy, and be more adaptable and reliable.

4. Waste Heat Reuse

Data centers produce a lot of heat because servers and other equipment are always running. Normally, this heat is just released into the air through cooling systems, which wastes energy. Waste heat recovery systems capture the extra heat from data centers and use it for other things, such as heating other buildings or cooling the data center itself.

This process helps data centers use energy more efficiently by recycling heat that would otherwise be wasted. By using this heat, data centers can reduce their overall energy use and impact on the environment.

3. Energy-Efficient Hardware

Energy-efficient hardware is also important for making data centers more eco-friendly. Traditional servers and storage devices use a lot of electricity, which can be costly for the environment. To fix this, companies are making processors and other hardware that use less electricity. These new processors can do more work while using less energy, so they’re just as powerful as older ones but more energy-efficient.

Solid-state drives (SSDs) are one innovation — faster and less energy-intensive than hard drives because they store data electronically instead of using magnets.

2. Green Building Design

Green building design makes data centers more eco-friendly by using materials that are better for the environment along with implementing smart building practices.

This means picking materials that are good for the environment as well as using energy-efficient lighting, such as LED lights, that use less power and last longer.

And the way the building is set up helps air move better and uses less cooling. For example, data centers place servers in rows. Arranging hot and cold rows in a specific way improves airflow and reduces the data center’s cooling needs. This helps keep the computers cool without using extra energy.

Green data centers also use better insulation and windows to keep the buildings comfortable while saving energy. Some even implement systems to collect rainwater to help with cooling. These smart-building practices help data centers use less energy, save money, and reduce their carbon footprints.

1. Modular Data Centers

Modular data centers are like ready-made data centers that can be easily moved and set up in different places. They’re built in factories and then shipped to where they’re needed fully or mostly assembled. This makes it faster and easier to create new data centers.

Modular data centers are designed to use less energy, and newer versions can run on power from the sun or the wind, making them even more eco-friendly. And since they are built in factories, there’s less waste than if they were built on-site.

Additionally, since modular data centers are portable, they can be moved to different places. So if the need for data changes or if a new location is better, they can be relocated easily. This makes them adaptable and eco-friendly.

The Bottom Line

There’s no getting around it: Data centers use a lot of energy, and that’s not good for the environment. But the sector, through both regulation, cost savings, and desire, is getting better.

That means we can make greener data centers by using less energy, cooling them more efficiently, and switching to renewable energy sources.