Data Centre Energy Use: How Much is Hot Air?

25 Jan 2018 02:41 PM

Emma Fryer tussles with the energy conundrum in preparation for Datacloud UK next week.

The energy consumption of the data centre sector is the subject of much speculation from press, government, regulators and the industry itself. Some commentators would have us believe that data centres are gobbling up power so fast that we will all have to live in caves and eat bugs. Other claims, if true, would mean we already are.

The truth is more mundane. Broadly speaking, in established markets, data centre energy use is stable or increasing in modest increments. In new growth markets it is increasing more rapidly but from a relatively low base. In the UK at least, data centre energy use is not going to compromise our electricity supply. So what’s all the fuss about?

ENERGY INSIGHT DCUK FIF (PDF)