In 2024, the Worldwide Vitality Company (IEA) estimated that knowledge facilities accounted for roughly 1.5 % of world electrical energy demand. That quantity is predicted to greater than double by 2030, pushed largely by the rise in AI infrastructure. To place this into perspective, that improve could be equal to Japan’s whole electrical energy consumption as we speak.
How will we meet this rising want for vitality — not solely from synthetic intelligence (AI), however from different digital applied sciences and the electrification of industries, resembling transportation and buildings?
Whereas this problem could appear daunting, there’s cause for optimism. We’re seeing quite a few improvements and applied sciences paving the way in which ahead, together with developments in additional energy-efficient knowledge facilities, breakthroughs in liquid cooling, improved software program fashions, elevated vitality safety, and the exploration of other vitality sources.
I just lately had the chance to debate the way forward for vitality with Mary de Wysocki, SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer at Cisco; Adele Trombetta, SVP & GM, CX EMEA at Cisco; and Christopher Wellise, VP of Sustainability at Equinix, a Cisco buyer that gives international digital infrastructure and colocation providers. Listed below are a few of the highlights from our dialog.
Q: How are clients adjusting their methods in response to the vitality image proper now?
Adele: Our clients and companions are driving sturdy demand for AI deployment to unlock its advantages and keep aggressive. This pattern spans throughout industries in each the private and non-private sectors. The strain is simple, however the vitality impression of AI, notably generative AI, can also be on our clients’ minds, particularly as giant language fashions (LLMs) are being deployed and educated at scale. A lot of our clients throughout Europe, the Center East and Africa (EMEA) have net-zero targets, so they should handle the accelerating adoption of AI rigorously. They’re approaching this with sustainability in thoughts, making it a core a part of technique growth slightly than an afterthought. It’s about adopting AI whereas concurrently managing its vitality impression.
Mary: Apparently, views can range relying on who you’re talking with — whether or not it’s clients, companions, or suppliers. A typical theme rising, notably in mild of world dynamics, is resiliency. There’s a clear give attention to proactive investments to safe the vitality wanted for the longer term. It’s additionally about discovering methods to maneuver ahead collaboratively and figuring out alternatives for co-investment. The priorities are clear: we want progress, resilience, and a extra sustainable method.
Chris: We’re seeing a number of key themes throughout the shopper panorama. Resiliency and reliability are high priorities, with clients centered on guaranteeing their functions run easily. Regulatory compliance is one other main concern, particularly in areas just like the European Union (EU) with directives such because the EU Vitality Effectivity Directive. One other request is for end-to-end options that optimize operations throughout the whole worth chain in addition to assist sustainability reporting and regulatory necessities. As clients undertake hybrid multi-cloud environments, they’re eager to optimize vitality use throughout platforms and areas. Lastly, partnerships are crucial. Prospects acknowledge the necessity to collaborate with suppliers, vitality suppliers, and others to fulfill their targets and optimize vitality use. For instance, within the Cisco-Equinix partnership, 70% of units related to the Equinix material run on Cisco know-how.
Q: We all know knowledge facilities are the muse for supporting the AI increase and managing its associated vitality wants. What are some technological developments which can be occurring within the knowledge heart?
Mary: Designing merchandise with vitality effectivity in thoughts is a crucial first step in delivering enterprise outcomes and addressing sustainability. For instance, Cisco’s Silicon One chip is engineered to be each energy-efficient and optimized for AI workloads, enabling clients to scale back energy consumption whereas assembly the rising calls for of recent networks and data-intensive functions. Along with that, a foundational innovation for purchasers, companions, and suppliers is our Sustainability Information Basis (SDF). It supplies a single supply of fact, providing the info wanted to handle carbon footprints and progress towards net-zero targets. This data empowers know-how leaders with the instruments to raised handle vitality and drive sustainability.
Chris: Designing for effectivity is so vital. Since 2021, we’ve required all new construct websites to pursue LEED or an equal inexperienced constructing certification to reveal adherence to acknowledged sustainability finest practices in design and building. Information facilities, constructed to final 20 to 30 years, require optimization in each design and operations. Innovation in cooling is very vital as a result of cooling sometimes accounts for over half of vitality consumption. Over 100 Equinix knowledge facilities at the moment are enabled with entry to liquid cooling know-how, resembling warmth exchangers or direct-to-chip cooling. Within the latter, a copper plate, fluid, and closed-loop system take away warmth straight from the chip whereas utilizing chemical compounds to stop erosion and bio slimes. From a sustainability perspective, this concentrated warmth turns into extremely usable. For instance, in Helsinki, Finland, warmth from knowledge facilities warms over 10,000 houses, and over the past Summer season Olympics, the aquatic heart swimming pools have been heated by an Equinix knowledge heart. Moreover, AI-powered superior software program can create digital twins to optimize cooling parameters and cut back vitality consumption for cooling.
Adele: Cisco’s new merchandise now combine each sustainability and safety into the design course of. Prospects more and more need to perceive how we deploy, monitor, and optimize know-how to deal with vitality consumption, efficiency, and AI. In keeping with a Gartner research, “By 2030, greater than 70% of knowledge facilities will monitor sustainability metrics, up from roughly 10% as we speak.” (supply: Gartner®). Collaboration inside the companion and buyer ecosystem is vital to modernization and environment friendly useful resource use. Coordinating numerous knowledge — starting from Cisco networking gear to grid knowledge, climate, location, and IT/OT programs — presents a posh however thrilling problem. With Splunk, we will streamline this course of and generate the insights wanted for efficient data stream and optimization.
Q: How nicely is the worldwide electrical energy infrastructure geared up to deal with rising electrical energy demand?
Chris: Our main problem lies extra in distribution than in provide, and the explanations for this range by area. In america, getting old infrastructure and complicated coverage and regulatory environments performs a job. In Europe, whereas there’s fast progress in renewable vitality, integrating it successfully into the grid stays a problem. In Asia, the scenario is extra numerous, with each fast renewable vitality growth and a continued heavy reliance on fossil fuels. To deal with these points successfully, it’s essential to deal with each distribution and provide concurrently.
Mary: Generative AI requires vital vitality, prompting the query: how can we guarantee dependable entry to the grid? In New York Metropolis, I see each alternative and problem within the grid. The U.S. grid, constructed principally within the ’60s and ’70s, lacks reliability and resilience, with 70% of transmission strains over 25 years previous. We see the potential of AI to assist handle main challenges, however its success depends upon modernizing the grid and knowledge facilities. Industrial IoT can play a key function in creating good, safer grids that maximize out there vitality, assist numerous vitality sources and allow predictive upkeep.
Adele: We’re partnering with clients anticipating digital transformation, together with vitality corporations supporting crucial nationwide infrastructure. Leveraging this shift, we’re specializing in creating extra sustainable options and we’re constructing good grids that prioritize effectivity. Whereas AI continues to be in its early levels, ongoing collaboration and partnership with utilities is important to make sure flexibility and adaptableness for his or her evolving wants.
Considering studying extra about the way forward for vitality and the affect of AI? Be part of me in particular person as I lead a dialogue about this matter at Cisco Reside US in San Diego from June 8-12. The session will happen on Tuesday, June 10 from 2 to 2:30pm PT, and you may register right here.
Supply: Gartner, [10 Performance Metrics to Improve Data Center Sustainability], [Henrique Cecci, Autumn Stanish], [14 February 2025]
GARTNER is a registered trademark and repair mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its associates within the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.
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