With data centers being one of the largest contributors to global emissions and high energy usage, they are gaining attention, with regulations and renewable energy options becoming increasingly discussed within the sector. IDTechEx's portfolio of Semiconductors, Data Centers, AI Research Reports and Subscriptions covers details across the data center ecosystem, including sustainability movements, battery storage, and thermal management.
Strategies to sustainability
Diversifying power sources for data centers is one means of expanding their scope for increased sustainability, with the introduction of solar, wind, fuel cells, and batteries as examples of renewable power generation means. Given the sheer amount of energy that data centers require to operate, there is a large carbon footprint generated as a result, with IDTechEx's report, "Sustainability for Data Centers 2026-2036: Green Technologies, Market Forecasts, and Players", stating that in 2024, data centers were responsible for 1% of all electricity usage worldwide.
Decarbonization regulations are coming in across a number of large sectors globally, and are not only demanded from governmental bodies, but also from larger societal pressures to lessen harmful environmental impacts. The Green Building Action Plan of 2015 operational within the US states that data centers larger than 1000 square feet should keep track of power use effectiveness (PUE) and reduce it each year if it is too high, while in the EU, the Revised Energy Efficiency Directive 2024 requires data centers to report PUE as well as renewable energy usage and amount of waste heat generated. These are two examples of regulations which indicate a growing global awareness of the need for data centers to be more effectively monitored and regulated.
Certain thermal management technologies will also have a role to play in enabling more sustainable operations as more efficient cooling solutions are adopted and energy efficiency is improved as a result. IDTechEx's report, "Thermal Management for Data Centers 2026-2036: Technologies, Markets, and Opportunities", explores different thermal management approaches ranging from direct-to-chip cooling to immersion cooling.
Scope 2 contributions to the carbon footprint of data centers outlined within IDTechEx's Sustainability for Data Centers report largely includes grid electricity usage, while scope 3 refers to supply chain elements, such as construction and IT hardware, which is less easily fixable. Scope 2 emissions could be hugely decreased with the implementation of low carbon electricity, with IDTechEx reporting that onsite microgrids powered by battery storage or solar energy could be means of lowering these emissions by up to 100%.
BESS for data centers
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are expected to see increasing demand in line with growing demand for data centers, as they can provide means of reducing grid reliance. Batteries can be used in uninterruptible power supply systems to cover critical loads in data centers. This is especially important given the rise of high-performance computing and AI. While Li-ion batteries are commonly associated with battery storage systems and are a generally low-cost option, they run the risk of degradation when frequently cycled and may not be able to last in the long-term.
IDTechEx's report, "Battery Storage for Data Centers, Commercial & Industrial Applications 2026-2036: Market, Forecasts...", states that RFB projects and Na-ion technologies are in development, as they are likely able to offer different long-term solutions for data centers. Redox flow batteries are also highlighted in the report as being an alternative to Li-ion batteries that could offer significantly lower degradation over longer lifetimes. RFBs also do not contain the same flammable electrolyte as in Li-ion batteries, which would remove fire risk and resulting financial losses.
For more information, visit IDTechEx's portfolio of Semiconductors, Data Centers, AI Research Reports and Subscriptions for the latest trends in data centers and the wider computing market.
