{"id":142796,"date":"2025-05-21T12:46:57","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T10:46:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/euro-funding.com\/?p=142796"},"modified":"2026-04-07T09:18:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T07:18:48","slug":"do-data-centres-truly-improve-sustainability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/euro-funding.wp2.rwdesarrollos2.es\/en\/blog\/do-data-centres-truly-improve-sustainability\/","title":{"rendered":"Do data centres truly improve sustainability?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Do data centres truly improve sustainability?<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\"\"<\/a><\/div>
Fernando G\u00f3mez<\/span><\/a>(<\/span> Technical Manager - European Funds )<\/span><\/span><\/div>

Fernando G\u00f3mez es Technical Manager \u2013 EU Projects en Euro-Funding<\/strong> desde 2020, con experiencia coordinando propuestas europeas de I+D+i. Especialista en financiaci\u00f3n europea<\/strong>, ha actuado como Technical Manager <\/strong>en programas como Horizon Europe, MSCA, ERC, EIC, LIFE, CBE, Eurostars, Clean Hydrogen, CEF o Innovation Fund<\/strong>, entre otros, y ha coordinado proyectos como REALIZE<\/strong> y ATM-EXCITE<\/strong>. Con m\u00e1s de 17 a\u00f1os de experiencia, ha desempe\u00f1ado funciones de R&D Project Manager<\/strong> en entidades de referencia como HM Hospitales, IMDEA y CIB-CSIC<\/strong>, adem\u00e1s de contar con una s\u00f3lida experiencia previa en bioenerg\u00eda y energ\u00edas renovables<\/strong>. Es evaluador experto<\/strong> para la Comisi\u00f3n Europea (H2020 y Horizon Europe) y para EUREKA<\/strong>, as\u00ed como mentor certificado de startups<\/strong> por la Fundaci\u00f3n Madri+d y asesor acreditado por ACCI\u00d3<\/strong> en los \u00e1mbitos de bioenerg\u00eda y econom\u00eda circular<\/strong>. Es licenciado en Biolog\u00eda Molecular<\/strong> y cuenta con m\u00e1steres en Energ\u00edas Renovables<\/strong> y Econom\u00eda Circular<\/strong>, adem\u00e1s de formaci\u00f3n especializada en gesti\u00f3n de proyectos de I+D+i.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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The rise of Industry 4.0<\/strong> <\/span>and the increasing use of new technologies have created a significant dependence on data usage and storage. Statistics and advanced forms of data analysis have ushered in a new paradigm in personal data use\u2014making us both providers and recipients of new products and services in a globalised world. Industry 4.0 refers to a new model of organisation and control across the product lifecycle and manufacturing systems, enabled by information technologies.<\/p>

From a circular economy perspective, digitalisation has brought forward several highly innovative tools aimed at reducing environmental impact. Data management and digital solutions\u2014such as digital platforms, smart devices, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and blockchain\u2014are now essential technologies for advancing the circular economy.<\/p>

This “Fourth Industrial Revolution”, characterised by increased digital connectivity between people, products, and systems\u2014driven by the Internet and mobile technology\u2014has become a powerful catalyst for unlocking a wealth of opportunities<\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>

Companies and users looking to future-proof themselves must enhance their digitalisation efforts and carbon footprint management. This starts with improving data capture, internal communication, reporting, analysis, and transparency\u2014thanks to cloud services and big data. These improvements will no doubt provide a competitive edge.<\/p>

In sectors like digital transformation in transport, change has come on the back of gradual digitalisation of procedures.<\/p>

In short, the knowledge-based society depends on generating, storing, distributing, and using data. Data centres manage information from millions of digital devices\u2014over 22 billion are currently connected to the internet, according to HelpNetSecurity.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Environmental impact of data centres<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A data centre is the physical location housing the computing resources of an organisation or service provider. Also known as an Internet Data Centre (IDC), it is a constantly evolving space.<\/p>

The digital sector is responsible for approximately 3.8%<\/strong><\/span> of global greenhouse gas emissions. A major environmental<\/a> challenge facing the tech sector is that, despite being intangible in appearance, it relies on a vast network of servers, data centres, and network infrastructure\u2014making it a considerable contributor to global emissions.<\/p>

The environmental<\/a> cost of using electronic products and digital services is evident, as highlighted in reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and DATA4, based on GeSI SMARTer 2030 data. The growing number of users and data is driving ever-higher energy demands.<\/p>

National Geographic reported that every minute, 38 million WhatsApp messages are sent, 266,000 hours of Netflix watched, 4.3 million YouTube videos viewed, and 3.7 million Google searches performed\u2014according to Cumulus Media data published by Visual Capitalist. If the Internet were a country, it would be the sixth largest polluter in the world, according to Greenpeace\u2019s Clicking Clean report.<\/p>

The main environmental footprint of data centres lies in the energy needed to power their infrastructure. Data centres, mobile antennas, and the devices used to access the internet all consume vast amounts of electricity.<\/p>

To protect against power outages, data centres store large batteries<\/strong><\/span>\u2014similar to those used in cars\u2014and sometimes rely on massive diesel generators. As the internet continues to grow, so too will the rise of autonomous vehicles, portable devices, and smart homes. The cloud is expanding, and with it, the volume of data that must be processed and stored. Currently, there are around 9 million data centres worldwide, and those located in the US alone consume 10% of the country\u2019s total electricity.<\/p>

Jon Koomey, professor at Stanford University and expert on tech\u2019s environmental impact, estimates that the internet accounts for 8\u201310% of global energy consumption, with data centres making up 1.5\u20132% of that. Koomey identifies three key components\u2014what he calls “the big three”:<\/p>

  1. The equipment we use to access the internet (computers, tablets, laptops, routers).<\/li>
  2. The data centres (where websites and data are hosted).<\/li>
  3. The access networks (cabling and antennas that transmit data).<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Environmental impact of data centres<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    According to Gartner, the internet\u2019s carbon footprint surpassed that of the aviation industry as early as 2007, accounting for 2% of global emissions. A 2013 study by CEET in Australia estimated that the telecommunications industry emits 830 million tonnes of CO\u2082 per year\u2014a figure projected to double by 2020.<\/p>

    Each Google search releases 0.2 grams of CO\u2082 into the atmosphere. According to Google, 1,000 searches produce the same emissions as driving one kilometre in a car.<\/p>

    This vast ecological footprint continues to grow, positioning data centres as one of the industries that will most affect future environmental conditions\u2014adding a cost to businesses due to the pollution they generate.<\/p>

    This has prompted a green shift within the industry, encouraging major operators and colocation providers to adopt more eco-conscious construction and operation practices. To achieve maximum efficiency and reduce environmental impact while cutting operational costs, experts highlight key technologies<\/strong><\/span>:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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