Navigating the Data Centre's Role in Energy Transition
The energy transition is set to radically transform how data centres achieve sustainability and contribute to net zero carbon emissions.
As a focal point for corporate strategies and policy development, the topic is pivotal at the forthcoming Sustainability LIVE: Climate Week NYC event.
Hosted at Convene in NYC, the conference will gather numerous C-level leaders in sustainability to explore strategies that accelerate the energy transition. This includes insights into its implications for data centres and IT infrastructure.
Sponsorship by Siemens and its data infrastructure impact
Siemens, known for its leadership in Automation Machinery Manufacturing, sponsors the discussion.
Sponsorship by Siemens and its data infrastructure impact
Siemens, known for its leadership in Automation Machinery Manufacturing, sponsors the discussion.
Stacy Mahler, U.S. Head of Sustainability, will kick off the panel with insights drawn from her vast experience in the industrial and energy sectors.
At Siemens, Stacy focuses on advancing infrastructure that enhances energy efficiency and integrates renewables, critical aspects for data centres aiming to minimise carbon outputs.
Key themes affecting data centres
The panel will likely cover various energy transition elements, especially those pertinent to data centres. Three key themes are noteworthy:
Decentralisation of energy systems
This shift from centralised fossil-fuel plants to decentralised renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, presents opportunities and challenges for data centres.
Technologies like microgrids and virtual power plants (VPPs) offer resilience and decentralisation benefits, potentially lowering operational costs for data centres while contributing to energy democratisation.
Electrification: From transport to data operations
The move to electrify transport and heavy industry parallels the electrification demands in data centres.
These facilities must adapt to increased electricity use, necessitated by accelerated digitalisation, while managing power demands through grid modernisation and energy storage solutions.
Thus, electrification extends beyond vehicles to include the backbone of digital infrastructure.
Adoption of green hydrogen and alternative fuels
For sectors like data centres, where electricity requirements are immense, green hydrogen represents a viable alternative.
It serves as an energy source where electrification alone doesn't suffice.
Companies like Siemens Energy are investing in infrastructure to make this possible, reflecting a need for data centres to explore similar investments.
Insights from Industry Leaders: NVIDIA, Oracle, and EEI
Joining the discussion are leaders from NVIDIA, Oracle, and the Edison Electric Institute, who will provide perspectives specific to data infrastructure:
Josh Parker from NVIDIA stresses the importance of data-led sustainability strategies, a principle crucial for optimising energy efficiency in data centres.
Jennifer Ruch from Oracle Cloud Infrastructure emphasises renewable energy procurement and sustainability integration at scale, indicating the strategic role of data centres in achieving enterprise-wide energy goals.
Eric Holdsworth from EEI, with his expertise in climate policy, underlines the strategic importance of advancing clean energy technologies for essential infrastructure.
The event will weave together themes such as net zero strategies, decarbonisation of supply chains and innovations in climate-tech that are pertinent for data centre leaders.
Attendees will have the opportunity to glean practical insights and strategies directly applicable to the operations and future sustainability initiatives of their data centres.
