Energy demands for data solutions have skyrocketed as internet usage has grown 25-fold in the past 14 years1. Data centres and data transmission networks now consume 1-1.5% of global electricity and, since 2023, have been responsible for 1% of energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
In July, Google grabbed headlines when it revealed its its GHG emissions increased by 48% above its 2019 baseline, due to demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and data centre fleets.
Similarly, Microsoft reported carbon emission increases amid rising data centre demand. The company’s Environmental Sustainability Report found that its total CO2 emissions rose by almost 30% since 2020, despite its direct emissions and energy use decreasing by over 6%.
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