Thought Leadership
The latest report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) makes it clear that data centers are increasingly becoming the heart of the global energy transition – and at the same time are under growing pressure to make their energy consumption sustainable.
AI-driven applications in particular are increasing the demands on infrastructure and power supply. In a recent commentary, Schneider Electric outlines the strategies that are now needed to reconcile performance, climate protection and space availability.
Commentary by Vincent Barro, VP Secure Power Division DACH for the data center industry
“The latest IEA report underlines that the data center industry plays a key role in the global energy landscape. The predicted increase in energy demand – driven in particular by AI-optimized workloads – highlights the need to make data centers not only more efficient, but also more sustainable.
It will be crucial to address the increasing demand for electricity with smart technology and integrated energy concepts. Smart control systems, highly efficient cooling technologies and the consistent integration of renewable energies into the power supply of data centers are key levers. They make it possible to increase efficiency, lower operating costs and reduce emissions at the same time.
The modernization of existing infrastructures is gaining strategic importance, especially against the backdrop of limited space and network capacities. Targeted retrofit projects can be used to adapt existing data centers to the requirements of AI workloads – without sealing off additional space or significantly interfering with the supply networks.
The results of the IEA clearly show that the future of data centers will be shaped by the dynamics of artificial intelligence and the pressure to operate sustainably. These developments are not mutually exclusive – they require a new, integrated way of thinking. With intelligent processes, resource-saving technology and modern infrastructure design, we can create the next generation of data centers: powerful, resilient and climate-friendly.”
Author: Vincent Barro, VP Secure Power Division DACH
