Data Centers Find Ways To Use More Renewable Power

Google has been carbon neutral since 2007, and now Google is working on 24/7 carbon-free energy.

The front-runner for Google is its data centers. Similar to how utilities and residential units manage demand response and load shifting, Google has developed a method for shifting computing tasks. The system allows the electricity loads associated with these tasks to be shifted to times when low-carbon power sources, like wind and solar, are producing more electricity and the carbon intensity of the electricity supply is lower.

Today, data centers take up to 3% of all electricity in the United States. For perspective, in 2019, the US used about 4100 billion kWh — of that, fossil fuels make up 62% of that (roughly 2600 billion kWh). Any contribution to consuming renewable energy will contribute to the shift away from fossil fuels.

The first part of this process focuses on energy efficiency. Servers and cooling make up 86% of a data center’s energy usage. Servers need to be cooled, and this is done through two systems: one system that sucks hot air out, and a second system pulls in fresh air from. This results in data centers using 81% less energy.

There are a few paths forward to continue pushing for energy efficiency and a decrease in carbon emissions from data centers:
- Companies follow Google’s model in time shifting, and eventually location shifting
- Consolidation of data center ownership to those that have sustainable practices
- Energy efficiency innovations, perhaps some overlap from smart home devices

As the shift to renewable power continues, we are likely to see an expansion of new solar and wind farms. The adoption of renewable energy will also drive costs per kWh down, further incentivizing this shift.

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