How Do We Keep Our Data Centers Sustainable?

At Digital Realty, we understand that sustainability is a critical concern for our clients and regulators alike. As international regulations tighten and our customers increasingly demand environmentally responsible solutions, we're proud to be at the forefront of the green revolution in the data center industry, particularly in the Netherlands. We spoke to two employees, who are at the forefront of our efforts to keep our data centers sustainable.

Our local sustainability approach in the Netherlands

Sustainability is the cornerstone of our operations in the Netherlands. As Olalekan, our Environmental and Sustainability Coordinator, explains, “We use 100% green energy from various sources. We have a guarantee of origin for all our sites, ensuring our commitment to renewable energy.”

Our local policy goes beyond energy use. Ap, our QHSE (Quality, Health and Safety, Environment and Sustainability) Manager, emphasizes our proactive approach: “We're not just reacting to current regulations; we're anticipating future ones. Our involvement in committees and lobbying efforts gives us insight into the direction governments are taking, allowing us to plan accordingly.”

We actively participate in trade associations such as the Dutch Data Center Association and NL Digital. Collaborating with industry peers and policymakers helps us shape future regulations. Being active helps us stay ahead of sustainability requirements while contributing to the industry's overall progress.

We've also implemented a comprehensive waste management strategy. As Olalekan proudly states, “We've initiated a 'zero waste-to-landfill' project to ensure all our non-hazardous wastes are recycled or used in energy production rather than being dumped in landfills.” This commitment to circular economy principles further demonstrates our holistic approach to sustainability in the Netherlands.

Addressing AI's energy challenges: Three key questions

As artificial intelligence (AI) systems become more prevalent, their energy demands pose new challenges for us as a data center provider. We're addressing three sustainability questions related to AI:

1. How can we power AI systems when the grid is at capacity?

We're tackling this challenge through a multi-faceted approach, combining cutting-edge technologies, strategic partnerships, and robust data analysis to ensure comprehensive solutions. This includes exploring alternative energy sources like solar, wind, and battery storage, which can provide off-grid or supplementary power during peak grid usage.

Additionally, we're optimizing energy use by leveraging advanced energy management systems, AI-driven efficiency models, and dynamic load balancing to maximize performance without overloading the grid. By integrating renewable energy and innovative energy-saving technologies, we aim to reduce our carbon footprint while maintaining reliable AI operations, even during grid constraints.

Ap explains, “We're testing AI systems to analyze data from thousands of sensors in our data centers. This helps us predict maintenance needs and improve overall energy efficiency.” By using AI to manage energy consumption, we're working towards a future where AI systems can be powered sustainably, even as demand grows.

2. How can we cool these energy-intensive systems efficiently?

Cooling is critical for our operations, especially for AI systems that generate significant heat. We're investing in cutting-edge cooling solutions to address this challenge.

“We're investigating and testing liquid cooling methods,” Ap reveals. “This involves sending cooled liquid directly to the racks and processors, which is more effective than traditional methods. It's crucial for accommodating the growing density and heat output of modern servers.”

We're also utilizing an aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) system, which leverages underground water reservoirs for cooling. However, as Ap notes, climate change poses new challenges: “We're seeing that winters are becoming milder, which affects the efficiency of our ATES system. We're continuously adapting our approach to ensure optimal cooling efficiency.”

3. What do we do with the excess heat generated?

While we're still exploring solutions for heat reuse, we recognize its growing importance in our industry. Many companies are finding ways to repurpose excess heat for community heating or industrial processes. This is an area where we see potential for expanding our sustainability efforts in the future. We are already involved in several projects in the vicinity of our datacenters, where we are actively participating in several local projects to make our datacenter heat available to local communities.

Our ongoing commitment to sustainable innovation

Our sustainability efforts extend beyond these three questions. We're making significant strides in reducing our carbon footprint through various initiatives:

• Transitioning our vehicle fleet to 100% electric vehicles.

• Switching from conventional diesel to HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) for backup generators, significantly reducing our emissions.

• Preparing for upcoming European Union regulations on power usage effectiveness (PUE), aiming to have all our data centers operating at or below a PUE of 1.3 by 2030.

As Olalekan explains, “These actions are part of our broader decarbonization plan. While we've made significant progress, we're continually looking for ways to improve.”

We also understand that we need to collaborate with others. We work closely with our clients, sharing best practices and sometimes joining forces on sustainability initiatives. Ap mentions, “One of our largest clients approached us about a Zero Waste project, and we're partnering with them on this initiative. It's about mutual support and boosting each other's sustainability efforts."

So, our commitment to sustainability in the Netherlands showcases how we're evolving to meet the challenges of AI and data growth while minimizing environmental impact. We're not just adapting to change—we're driving it. As businesses navigate the hurdles of AI implementation and data management, partnering with us at Digital Realty can be a step towards a more sustainable digital future.