DATA CENTRES CAN NOW RUN ON 99 % PLANT-BASED FLUIDS , ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR BILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER USED ANNUALLY IN COOLING .
E D I T O R ' S Q U E S T I O N
It ’ s clear that we ’ re moving towards an eco-friendly future , and there are a few standout innovations I see pushing data centres closer to achieving net zero status .
One breakthrough is Bloom Energy ’ s natural gas energy cell which is gaining traction as a cleaner energy alternative . This technology could significantly reduce our carbon emissions while maintaining energy reliability . Additionally , Zinc 5 battery storage presents a safer and more sustainable alternative to Lithium , improving energy storage efficiency without the associated environmental risks .
We ’ re also exploring ultra-scale digital infrastructure partnerships with companies like Cargill . Data centres can now run on 99 % plant-based fluids , eliminating the need for billions of gallons of water used annually in cooling , opening new doors for water conservation , particularly for data centres which rely on water in their operations .
Beyond these , we ’ re also exploring capturing and repurposing heat from data centres to power local applications , such as community heating or greenhouses . Of course , AI plays a key role in optimising energy management too . We can use AI to implement predictive maintenance , better understand long-term energy trends and refine our grid behaviour .
Finally , while renewables are indeed gaining traction in powering data centres , it ’ s important to acknowledge their limitations . The sun doesn ’ t always shine , and the wind doesn ’ t always blow , meaning infrastructure upgrades are critical to ensuring a consistent and reliable power supply for data centres relying on renewable energy .
Hopefully , over the next few years , a convergence of technology and renewable energy could make netneutral data centres a reality but we ’ re not there just yet . By embracing these innovations , we can balance operational resilience and sustainability going into the future .
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DATA CENTRES CAN NOW RUN ON 99 % PLANT-BASED FLUIDS , ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR BILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER USED ANNUALLY IN COOLING .
GARY TINKLER , MANAGING DIRECTOR OF DATA CENTRES , NORTHERN DATA GROUP
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