Inside IBM's Plans to Decarbonise Its Data Centres
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global data centre electricity usage has elevated considerably from 2022, rising from 1% to 1.3% of global final electricity demand to 2% to 3% today.
Goldman Sachs Research projects a further 160% growth by 2030, although medium-term estimates tend to vary as the scale of the AI revolution to come is still unknown.
Regardless of specifics, data centres are here to stay - and here to grow.
The spike in demand for data centres necessitates a simultaneous growth in renewable energy solutions, if companies and countries alike are to hit their net zero targets.
In response, efforts to integrate renewable energy solutions have gained momentum in the data centre sector in recent months. IBM is latest company to announce decarbonisation measures on its sites.
The strategy behind IBM's purchase of solar PV
IBM is a leader in global technology services and owns 60 data centres worldwide.
The company's mission to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 takes a significant stride with a planned solar farm on the site of its Hursley campus in southeast England.
Clean Energy Capital has submitted a proposal to develop a solar facility that could potentially provide almost five million kWh of energy each year.
This amount of clean energy equates to saving about 46,000 tonnes of CO₂.
The farm would not only power IBM's data centre but also extend benefits to local community facilities like IncuHive and the Hursley Sport and Social Club.
Supported by thoughtful planning, the solar farm will integrate into the local landscape with minimal environmental disruption.
The development is intended to respect local heritage and maintain ecological balance, with design features that include buffers and screening to blend into the surrounding environment.
IBM's UK endeavour represents a keen awareness of both technological innovation and community-centric sustainability.
IBM's history of sustainable procurement
Historically significant, Hursley is IBM's pioneering lab where revolutionary software technologies have been developed since 1958.
The lab was groundbreaking in creating the Customer Information Control System (CICS) which services countless daily transactions worldwide.
Today, Hursley aligns its innovative thrust with sustainable practices to meet IBM’s broader environmental goals.
Energy efficiency measures include reducing redundant infrastructure and deploying advanced cooling systems.
These interventions are complemented by AI applications that optimise overall facility performance, revealing IBM Hursley's shift towards a holistic approach to sustainability.
Reiterating its commitment to renewables, IBM has set a robust framework to increase its global renewable energy procurement.
Since its first renewable electricity purchase in 2001, IBM has expanded its green energy portfolio, with an aim to source 75% of its required electricity from renewables by this year and a target of reaching 90% by 2030.
As a testament to its sustainable operations, in 2023 alone, IBM's use of renewable sources surged, covering 75% of its electricity consumption.
Additionally, 28 of its data centres worldwide were powered entirely by renewable electricity.
This commitment places IBM years ahead of many counterparts and is a proactive response to the climate crisis.
"The climate crisis is one of the most pressing issues of our time," says Arvind Krishna, IBM's Chairman and CEO.
"IBM's net zero pledge is a bold step forward that strengthens our long-standing climate leadership and positions our company years ahead of the targets set out in the Paris Climate Agreement."
The prognosis remains positive as IBM stays on course to meet its ambitious environmental targets.
This transition signifies a strategic pivot to sustainability, balancing operational needs with environmental imperatives.
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