Data centres play a pivotal role in the digital age. They are generally energy-intensive, necessitated by the need to meet the energy needs of their IT and cooling systems. It is estimated that the global data centre energy consumption accounts for 1 – 2% of global energy use . And with the increasing uptake of data-centric digital technologies, there could be ramifications for the sustainability of energy systems.
Tasks
You will critically examine the global uptake of data centres, focusing on their energy consumption, as well as threats to, and opportunities for, the sustainability of energy systems. You will elaborate how these affect the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), evaluate the strategies employed by Google to ensure the energy sustainability of its data centres, and make practical recommendations.
Prepare a comprehensive technical report of your findings and recommendations.
Report Format
Your report must not be more than 3000 words long, including the title page and references, and there should be no appendices. Use a style appropriate to a technical report (i.e. formal, factual, and to the point). Use portrait A4 format with a single column and include page numbers in the footer. You should use Calibri or Times New Roman with font of size no less than 11 points.
Your report must include the following (including your own headings), in the order depicted: