E X P E R T O P I N I O N

In terms of sustainability, the new law will require some AI practitioners to document and report on AI systems ' energy consumption, as well as the energyefficient development of AI models.

However, as noted by digital policy expert José Renato Laranjeira de Pereira, European lawmakers did significantly weaken the environment-related provisions in the AI Act before approving it. This move seemingly speaks to the concern lawmakers have over imposing onerous regulations.

The next move for data centre operators

While the regulatory environment in Europe may still be in flux, many data centre operators have historically focused on energy management issues as part of their sustainability efforts and, therefore, should be ready to meet some minimum requirements.

When regulators come knocking, for instance, data centres should demonstrate their embrace of‘ circularity’ – a holistic approach to minimising waste and pollution. This means that data centre operators will have plans for using equipment with long lifespans and for recycling

or reusing their infrastructure. Resources, like tools from the CEDaCI( Circular Economy for the Data Centre Industry) project, can help data centre stakeholders make sustainabilityfocused decisions, such as how to refurbish or properly dispose of servers.

Certain pieces of infrastructure lend themselves to this sustainable approach, such as battery backup systems powered by nickel-zinc( NiZn) batteries. NiZn batteries are highly recyclable, making them a logical component of a‘ circular economy.’

Additionally, NiZn batteries’ lifetime greenhouse gas emissions are 4X lower than lead-acid emissions and 6X lower than lithium-ion emissions. They ' re also made with common, widely available, conflict-free materials. Supporting documentation and life cycle analysis reports are also being actively developed to help guide and assist customers on their sustainability journey.

Meanwhile, NiZn batteries have an operating life up to 3x that of traditional lead-acid batteries, and thanks to the stable, non-corroding positive nickel current collector in nickel-zinc batteries – they don’ t go into thermal runway at the cell level, providing lower risk operations in the data centre. There are also options for NiZn drop-in replacement for lead-acid UPS batteries using the same charging system – creating a smooth replacement process.

Choosing the right power and backup systems is simply the first step data centre developers and operators should take to prepare for the new regulatory environment in Europe. The advancement of AI will only make sustainability goals harder to reach, making smart, foundational decisions related to infrastructure all the more critical. �

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