FACILITIES/BUILDING MANAGEMENT
HOW CAN DATA CENTRE OPERATORS BALANCE AI
DEMAND WITH SUSTAINABLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT?
D
ata centres are some of the most energy- intensive facilities in the modern built
environment. As AI workloads accelerate, Gartner expects data centre power demand to increase by 179% by 2030. That growth is putting renewed pressure on energy procurement, grid capacity, cooling systems and water use, while regulation and customer expectations around sustainability continue to intensify. This is not only an environmental challenge. It is
an operational and energy management challenge too. Accenture has found that organisations prioritising ESG can generate up to 2.6 times more value for shareholders than their peers. For data centre operators, rising power costs, tighter reporting rules and the need for resilient supply mean sustainability now has to be embedded into how facilities are designed, built and operated. The positive news is that the sector has practical
levers it can pull now. From circular operating models and battery energy storage, to liquid cooling and renewable energy integration, operators can reduce resource consumption while improving performance.
BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY INTO
INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN Modern data centres should be designed with energy optimisation as a core principle, not an afterthought. This means everything from server selection to cooling architecture to power distribution must be evaluated through an energy lens. Physical infrastructure complements these digital
systems. For example, we’re seeing data centre operators becoming energy generators, tapping into renewable energy sources. This is based on the natural resources available in each region – a hot climate is suited to solar panels, while Scandinavian data centres often use hydroelectric or geothermal energy. By deploying battery energy storage systems (BESS), they can address the intermittent nature of renewable supply. Energy solutions also lend themselves to circular
operating models. For example, batteries that no longer have sufficient capacity to be used in electric vehicles can be redeployed in BESS systems.
www.essmag.co.uk As AI demand grows,
sustainability is presenting a complex challenge for data centre operators and, as new technologies emerge and best
practice evolves, they will need to keep reassessing where
resources can be used more efficiently. Andre Gargi,
global head of Data Centres, Hitachi Energy, comments
RETHINKING TRADITIONAL APPROACHES
TO COOLING Cooling accounts for approximately 40% of data centre energy consumption. It’s also one of the areas where innovation is having the biggest impact. Traditional air cooling is being supplemented and, in some cases, replaced by liquid cooling solutions that can handle the extreme thermal loads generated by AI accelerators. Liquid cooling isn’t just more efficient. It enables
higher-density compute configurations that would be impossible with air cooling alone. This means more computing power per square meter, which translates to better land utilisation and smaller physical footprints. However, liquid cooling is resource intensive in its own way. According to the IEA, a data centre’s annual water use will reach 1,200 billion litres each year by 2030, while building in water-scarce regions is projected to rise by 63%. But cooling innovation goes beyond technology.
It also involves rethinking cooling strategies holistically. This includes using outside air economisation when weather permits, optimising airflow to eliminate hot spots, and deploying AI-driven controls that dynamically adjust cooling based on real-time thermal loads.
AN END-TO-END APPROACH The secret to achieving sustainability goals is to
consider infrastructure across its lifecycle. This starts with procuring systems that have certified sustainability credentials. Providers should be looking to reduce the emissions associated with the production, transportation and installation, as well as operations and end of life recycling. Waste reduction at the start of a lifecycle
can be as simple as reducing packaging. Prefabricated systems that are assembled directly in racks avoid the need for excess material use. Equally, containerised solutions can simplify construction, while reducing infrastructure’s impact on land, local communities, and resources. These shifts might seem relatively minor, but if implemented across the entire value chain, these marginal gains make a real impact in waste and emissions reduction. End-of-life considerations matter, too.
Equipment should be designed for disassembly and component reuse. Materials should be recyclable. And operators should have clear partnerships with recycling facilities that can properly handle e-waste.
THE NEXT STAGE FOR SUSTAINABLE
ENERGY MANAGEMENT Sustainability presents a complex challenge for data centre operators as AI demand grows. But rather than an end destination, it should be viewed as a process of continuous improvement across power, cooling, water and lifecycle management. As new technologies emerge and best practice evolves, operators will need to keep reassessing where resources can be used more efficiently. The data centres set up for success over the next
decade will be those that treat sustainable energy management as core infrastructure strategy. Improved compliance, lower energy costs and stronger customer relationships are clear benefits, but the wider opportunity comes through collaboration. By working with energy providers, technology partners and other sectors, operators can develop new approaches to sustainable energy generation, storage and use.
Hitachi Energy
www.hitachienergy.com/uk-ie/en
ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Autumn 2026 29
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