The Looming Threat of Data Centres to the Environment

Data centres as an entity and reliance is growing at a break-neck pace. This rapid expansion is driven by the increasing demand for data storage and processing, as well as the rise of AI and machine learning. It’s a concern amongst many environmental professionals.

By 2030, the global data centre market is projected to reach a staggering $418 billion, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.6% from 2023-2030. The cloud service providers segment is set to achieve the highest CAGR of 17.7% between 2022 and 2030.

To put it into perspective, there are approximately 10,978 data centre locations worldwide, with the top 20 countries including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, China and Canada.

What Are Data Centres?

Data centres, as critical and dedicated facilities, play a pivotal role in the digital age. They house:

• Computer servers.
• Storage devices.
• Cooling and power systems.
• Security systems.
• Networking equipment.
• Other computing resources.

These resources are essential for storing, processing, and distributing vast amounts of digital data and information, enabling and supporting various activities and services in the modern age. The activities and applications using data centres include hosting websites, processing transactions, and managing large databases.

The servers are powerful computers that run applications and process data; the storage systems are devices such as hard drives and arrays for storing and backing up data; the network equipment includes switches, routers, and firewalls for data communication and connectivity; the cooling and power systems include the air conditioning units and backup power sources to maintain optimal data centre operating conditions, and the security measures consist of access controls, surveillance, and fire suppression systems to protect the infrastructure.

Why Do We Need Data Centres?

Data centres have become the backbone of the economy and a cornerstone of the technology enabling essential services and activities:

• Global Connectivity: data centres facilitate global connectivity by hosting websites, cloud services, and online platforms, making them accessible globally.
• Data Storage and Processing: companies depend on data centres to store, manage, and process digital data, such as business files, databases, and applications.
• Digital Services: Data centres power a range of digital services, such as online banking, e-commerce, streaming platforms, and social media networks.
• Business continuity: Data centres with embedded secure infrastructure ensure business continuity and reduce risks of data loss and service interruptions.
• Emerging Technologies: Data centres support the deployment and scaling of emerging technologies such as big data analytics, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Despite the significant benefits and essential services supported by the data centres, it's crucial to acknowledge the significant environmental challenges they pose. These challenges demand our immediate attention and action.

How Are Data Centres Harmful to the Environment?

There is a growing concern amongst the public and experts about the potential harm that data centres could be causing the environment.

Massive Levels of Energy Consumption

Data centres consume large amounts of electricity, and they show absolutely no signs of slowing down. The global data centres currently make up around 1.3 per cent of the global final electricity demand.

Countries with expanding data centre markets, such as Ireland, are experiencing rapid growth in energy consumption; for example, Ireland's data centre energy consumption accounted for 18% of total electricity consumption in 2022.

The global data centre energy consumption is projected to increase to 4% by 2030. In smaller countries like Denmark, data centres' energy consumption will rise six times by 2030, accounting for about 15% of the country's energy consumption.

Huge Amounts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The massive amounts of energy consumed by the data centres contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, primarily carbon dioxide, due to the fossil fuels like coal or natural gas used to generate the electricity used to power them.

Data centres have significant embodied emissions due to the manufacturing, transportation, and disposal of IT equipment and infrastructure. Also, data centres require vast cooling systems to dissipate the heat sources from the servers and other equipment. The cooling systems consume high amounts of electricity, and their refrigerants, where used, can be potent greenhouse gases. For warmer climates, using data centres contributes to large consumption of water for cooling, and their treatments and transportation generate greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), data centres and transmission networks accounted for around 330 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2020 and will continue to increase if companies do not implement energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.

Land Use and Biodiversity Destruction

Establishing data centres often requires millions of swaths of land, potentially destroying natural habitats and ecosystems. As a result, constructing data centres can destroy habitats such as wetlands, forests, and areas of protected species. One such example is during the construction of the Sines data centre in Portugal. Temporary ponds in designated protected areas were destroyed despite the environmental legal obligations to protect the environment.

Data centre developments bring economic benefits such as powering digital services, storing and processing data, facilitating global connectivity, and supporting emerging technologies like AI. However, it's our collective responsibility to ensure that these benefits are not at the cost of our environment and the planet's future.

To find out more about the latest trends in sustainability and environmental training, you can download our annual learner report, featuring insights from over 900 HSE professionals on subjects such as net zero goal adoption and organisational barriers.

Industries and companies must take the lead in reducing energy consumption, minimising the greenhouse gas emissions generated from data centres, and mitigating the environmental impacts of damaging land use, biodiversity loss, and habitat destruction.

In order to become more energy efficient, businesses need to examine the full breadth of their operations and supply chain to see where opportunities lie. We strongly recommend that businesses looking to develop a robust plan for reducing their impact on the environment take a look at the IEMA Pathways to Net Zero course.