EXPERT OPINION
energy and the circular economy are going to be critical moving forward , and for many of our key clients this is a hot topic now .
As a global leader in energy and automation , we work with customers to solve these challenges in several ways – firstly in the design , build and deployment of data centres – helping them to buildout their infrastructure sustainably ; secondly in the modernisation and servicing of said data centre platforms , ensuring they ’ re sustainable , energy efficient and future-proofed for new technological demands such as AI ; and thirdly extending our expertise in data centres into other areas of the business such as energy and microgrids .
The data centre industry is moving from a consumer to a prosumer and by working collaboratively we can help the sector be a catalyst for net zero and reduce its demand on the grid .
I believe the final challenge is in the way we communicate outside of the sector . It ’ s crucial that we educate a wider audience on the role of data centres and demystify digital infrastructure in general . My new DDI podcast explores this in more detail .
How does Schneider Electric harness the power of software and digitalisation to unlock new efficiencies and minimise energy waste to ensure data centres play a key role in a more resilient and sustainable future ?
Software and digitalisation both have a pivotal role to play , not only in optimising data centres but also in enhancing other sectors ’ sustainability capabilities .
We believe both are critical to unlock resilience and efficiency and if we have better visibility we will consume and waste less resources , have a better understanding of how to drive down costs and ultimately reduce our collective carbon footprint .
A great example of this can be seen in digital twin software . By digitalising the data centre design process , customers can understand the carbon impact of their designs and operations over the life cycle , model their systems under various operating conditions and make more informed decisions about how their choice of components will impact their sustainability targets . production and consumption . The solution is a more electric and more digital world .
Electricity is proven to be three to five times more efficient than other sources and it is also the best vector for decarbonisation . A more electric and digital world is key to addressing the climate crisis which is what Electricity 4.0 allows .
Together with our customers we can build a new electric world by providing smart energy everywhere – from the data centres , infrastructures and grids of the future , to homes and buildings .
What are your predictions for the Digital Transformation of energy management in 2024 and beyond ?
In the last 12 months we ’ ve seen the energy crisis drive a greater focus on energy efficiency and sustainability , and I believe that will accelerate moving forwards .
There ’ s no doubt that from an energy standpoint the impact of AI will be a big focus for the data centre industry and businesses will need to remodel their systems accordingly to reach net zero .
A greater focus on energy and the way in which we create and manage it , also provides us with the biggest opportunity to benefit people and ecosystems outside of the sector .
In the Nordics , for example , some data centres will sit near to buildings and will utilise the waste heat from servers in either fuel production facilities or district heating systems for schools and homes . This is something I ’ d like to see more of here in the UK and Ireland .
As an industry , there are a host of wonderful opportunities available to us , but we may need to think differently about how and where we build data centres in future to create a truly sustainable and circular ecosystem . �
This also extends into other industries and allows businesses to convert data into actionable insights and make powerful decisions that will drive a more sustainable outcome .
Can you tell us more about Schneider Electric ’ s vision Electricity 4.0 – how does this help customers harness the power of electrification and digitalisation ?
In order to fight climate change we need to eliminate carbon emissions – over 80 % of which are caused by energy
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