E D I T O R ' S Q U E S T I O N
The AI boom is still in its early stages , yet power availability and consumption have already become critical concerns . The rapid expansion of AI and data-driven applications has significantly increased energy demand , forcing data centre operators to balance power constraints , grid stability , and sustainability goals while meeting AI ’ s growing appetite for compute resources .
To capitalise on AI opportunities , data centres are shifting from traditional CPU-based servers to high-performance GPU servers , which consume up to 13 times more power in the same footprint . Meanwhile , utility providers struggle to scale their infrastructure , which is slow and costly . Some propose nuclear solutions , such as small modular reactors ( SMRs ), but the regulatory , environmental and social challenges make them unlikely near-term solutions .
The growing power demand of storage
Power consumption isn ’ t just about compute resources . Storage also plays a major role , as data centres rely heavily on high-performance flash and disk-based solutions that require constant power and cooling . As AI adoption accelerates , so does the volume of data – inputs , outputs , models and inference processes – all adding to the storage energy burden .
Innovators are developing powerreduction strategies such as AIoptimized infrastructure , liquid cooling , efficient software , on-site renewable energy , and smart utility grids . However , implementing these solutions at scale requires significant time and investment .
Magnetic tape : A proven , lowpower alternative
One readily available solution is magnetic tape storage , a trusted technology protecting about 20 % of the world ’ s data for decades . Unlike hard disk drives ( HDDs ) and solid-state drives ( SSDs ), which require continuous power for operation , tape remains offline until needed , reducing lifetime energy consumption by approximately 87 % compared to HDDs .
Tape also offers the lowest total cost of ownership ( TCO ) and can scale beyond an exabyte in a single system , making it an ideal solution for data centres looking to optimise efficiency .
Tiered storage for power optimisation
Data centre operators can significantly reduce power consumption by implementing tiered storage architectures that offload inactive or
‘ cold ’ data ( which typically makes up around 80 % of stored data ) to tape . Meanwhile , frequently accessed ‘ hot ’ data remains on high-performance SSDs and HDDs . This approach ensures that AI workloads have immediate access to essential datasets while minimising overall energy demand .
Tape technology continues to evolve , with upcoming advancements such as LTO-10 expected to deliver higher data density , faster streaming performance , and greater per-device capacity than the latest hard drives .
A smarter approach to AI-driven storage
To address power supply and stability concerns while meeting AI-driven demands , data centre operators must adopt strategic storage solutions that balance performance , cost and sustainability . Expanding the use of tape-based storage offers a lowenergy , cost-effective , and reliable alternative to traditional disk-based storage , helping data centres optimise power use , enhance grid stability and support AI ’ s future .
By integrating tape into their storage strategies , operators can build more efficient , resilient infrastructure in an era of unprecedented data growth .
TED OADE , DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT MARKETING AT SPECTRA LOGIC
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