Sustainable Energy Data Centres: A Holistic Conceptual Framework for Design and Operations

Abstract

Data Centres serve as the foundation for digital technologies in the energy sector, enabling advanced analytics, optimization, and automation. However, their rapid growth can exert a substantial influence on the environment due to their energy consumption, water utilization, and production of electronic waste. This research begins with an energy overview of the setup and operations of data centres, highlighting their key components and infrastructure, and emphasizing their crucial role in managing energy resources and driving the energy sector’s digital technologies. Building upon this understanding, a holistic framework is proposed to tackle energy sustainability concerns in data centres, with a focus on energy-related aspects. The framework places emphasis on three primary sustainability metrics, namely energy efficiency, water consumption, and waste management. It underscores the significance of green building design principles and energy-efficient equipment as crucial constituents of sustainable data centre infrastructure. The framework delineates optimal energy operational best practices encompassing virtualization and consolidation, effective cooling tactics, and energy management and monitoring, all aimed at reducing energy consumption and enhancing energy performance. Furthermore, the framework emphasizes the significance of incorporating energy-related sustainability metrics into decision-making procedures and adhering to regulatory standards for energy efficiency. Through adherence to this framework, data centres’ environmental impact can be mitigated and a positive contribution towards a sustainable future can be made, particularly in the realm of energy conservation and optimization.