Volker Ludwig is Managing Director of Digital Realty and Deputy Spokesperson for the Alliance for the Strengthening of Digital Infrastructures in Germany, founded under the umbrella of eco Association. On 29 April 2024, the data centre expert will join other representatives of the alliance on the panel “Digital transformation for more sustainability: Positive effects of digital technologies and infrastructures on the climate footprint of the economy and society” at the “Digital and Sustainable Transformation” stage at Digisustain 2024, accompanied by eco. In a short interview, he discusses how data centres can become more sustainable – with the help of AI, for example.
What role do digital infrastructures play in sustainable digital transformation?
Digital infrastructures play a key role in sustainable digital transformation. High-performance data centres and communication connections form the basis for digital transformation as well as for efficient data management and flexible and scalable processes. They support the integration of sustainability aspects into the development and use of digital technologies – for example, by supporting forecasting models or smart grids that optimise energy management. Basically, it can be said that Digital processes are generally more efficient than analogue ones and offer a number of advantages – including faster processing speed, more precise data processing and greater scalability. For example, a study conducted by eco with Arthur D. Little shows that the use of IoT in agricultural operations could save 18 megatonnes of CO2 by 2050.
What measures can data centre operators take to provide the most energy efficient and sustainable data centres? Are there any practical examples that you find particularly exciting?
Various aspects come into play when it comes to data centres sustainability: smart cooling technologies, energy-efficient hardware, comprehensive energy management, waste heat recovery or the purchase of renewable energy are just some of the ways in which they contribute to resource-efficient operation. There is a lot going on in the field of renewable energy in particular and there are exciting local projects – such as our Power Purchase Agreement, under which we have committed to purchasing around 120 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity per year for ten years from a solar park in Brandenburg, Germany. In the data centre itself, classic engineering measures, such as reducing the number of ventilation panels in the cold aisles or adjusting the chillers’ setpoints depending on the ambient temperature and the resulting reduction in evaporator temperature, contribute to sustainable data centre operation.
One particularly exciting project is our proprietary AI software “Apollo2, which is used in four of our data centres in Frankfurt, Germany. It greatly facilitates data-based decision-making and has already resulted in energy savings, for example by detecting irregularities such as clogged filters or leaking valves and making suggestions for optimising operating settings.
In your opinion, what digital policy measures need to be taken to strengthen Germany as a data centre location and enable data centres to drive forward a sustainable digital transformation?
In order to strengthen Germany as a data centre location and advance sustainable digital transformation, an open dialogue between politics and industry is required. Data centres are the backbone of all digitalization efforts. Fast and reliable digital services for critical infrastructures, companies and private individuals can only be provided if data centres have sufficient connectivity and capacity. In the face of comprehensive, global digitalisation, this becomes a basic prerequisite for Germany’s future success and international competitiveness. Therefore, the German federal government should specifically strengthen Germany as a data centre location. Creating positive framework conditions for the establishment of highly efficient data centres, their users, and qualified jobs is imperative for new research and application scenarios in the fields like AI. This also neccessitates streamlined authorisation procedures, competitive regulations regarding energy efficiency and a competitive electricity price compared to the rest of Europe.
In addition, policymakers at the federal, state and municipal level should take a holistic view of digital infrastructures, strengthening and promoting them. For example, this could involve the nationwide expansion of fibre optic networks and broad 5G coverage for mobile Internet. The German federal government’s prioritisation of the energy transition is essential here; the consistent expansion of renewable energies is a basic prerequisite for digital infrastructures operators to achieving ambitious CO2 targets in Germany and Europe into practice. Waste heat from data centres, for example, is a valuable energy resource. However, there are currently too few opportunities to supply waste heat to local or district heating networks on a large scale. This could be remedied, among other things, by implementing purchasing obligations for heat network operators.
Thank you for the interview!
All information about DIGISUSTAIN 2024 is available here! (German-language)
