Call for DC sustainability a wake-up call for industry

A recent detailed survey titled IT and Data Centre Sustainability in Australia has revealed startling insights that underscore the urgent need for action in the Australian data centre industry.

Conducted by Pure Storage and the Institute of Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney between May and June 2023, the survey examined thoughts and behaviours of sustainability professionals across various sectors, providing a comprehensive view of the current state of sustainability in data centres.

Key findings from the survey include:

• Only 5% of sustainability professionals felt they received detailed sustainability-related data from data centre service operators, with 46% receiving no data at all.
• 77% agreed that organisations cannot reach their sustainability goals without significantly reducing data centre energy usage.
• Despite 48% of respondents being aware of the amount of energy data centres consume, 29% of organisations did not consider data centre energy consumption at all.
• 81% of respondents anticipate an increase in demand for data management, yet only 15% indicated sustainability issues were a critical consideration in procurement for data centre service providers.
   

These findings are a true wake-up call for our industry. Data centres are estimated to be responsible for up to 3% of global electricity consumption today, projected to touch and likely exceed 10% by 2030. In Australia, our emission reduction targets are clear — we aim to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 26–28% below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

The role of data centres in achieving these targets cannot be overstated. As the demand for data management increases, particularly with the rise of AI, the energy consumption and emissions from data centres will inevitably rise. If we are to meet our emission reduction targets, urgent change is required.

In recent years, we’ve seen governments around the world taking action to curb the overdevelopment of unsustainable data centres. For instance, Singapore imposed a moratorium on new data centre projects in 2019 to address significant carbon emission challenges. This moratorium was only lifted recently with stringent new requirements for data centres to prove their sustainability, highlighting the global recognition of the need for sustainable data centre development.

In Ireland, environmentalists have pushed back on the industry that is on track to consume 30% of the small country’s power generation in 2030, conflicting with the country’s ambitious climate goals. There are also concerns about the chemicals used to treat cooling water before it is discharged to waterways.

Furthermore, Australia is taking significant steps towards mandatory sustainability reporting. A recent proposal by the Australian Treasury, set to take effect as early as 1 July 2024, will require large companies to report on their scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions. This includes indirect emissions from the entity’s value chain, including upstream and downstream emissions. This move underscores the increasing importance of transparency and accountability in our industry’s contribution to carbon emissions.

We need to improve the quality of sustainability-related data available, reduce energy usage and make sustainability a critical consideration in all data centre operations. This is not just about meeting targets — it’s about the future of our industry and our planet.

The findings of this survey underscore the pressing need for collaboration. The future success of our industry depends on our collective commitment to sustainability today. It’s time for industry and government to come together, to drive change and make a difference. The path to a sustainable future is a shared responsibility, and together, we can create a future that is both technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable.

Image credit: iStock.com/Mikhail Mishunin