The sustainability equation for Africa's data centres

Data centres are playing a crucial role in today's digital economy as companies adopt cloud services, AI, digital financial services, and other data-intensive technologies. This growth has led to increased scrutiny of data centres' resource requirements, particularly electricity consumption, water use, and environmental impact. As markets already face pressure on energy and water resources, there is a growing focus on more efficient and responsible operations.

Finding the right balance between expanding capacity and managing resources is essential. Sustainability in data centres encompasses various aspects, including energy efficiency, power resilience, water consumption, cooling, equipment utilisation, and the source of energy used. Power resilience should involve more than just generators during grid failures, and operators should consider the environmental impact of powering facilities and explore opportunities for renewable energy and energy storage.

Cooling systems can be optimized to handle rising heat loads without using more electricity and water. Closed-loop cooling systems can reduce water dependence, while hot- and cold-aisle containment can improve airflow management and lower cooling energy requirements. Using cooler external air during specific periods instead of relying solely on mechanical cooling can also improve efficiency.

Exploring alternative energy sources, such as solar, wind, and battery storage, can help address the intermittency of renewable generation and reduce reliance on fossil fuels like diesel. Converting generator equipment to operate on gas can be a step towards a lower-emission backup power solution, although it should not be the end goal. The ultimate objective should be to combine resilience, efficiency, and lower-emission energy sources.

Instead of solely building new facilities with the latest technology, targeted upgrades can improve existing data centres' efficiency. Retrofitting solar generation, replacing aging chillers with more efficient equipment, upgrading uninterruptible power supply systems, and enhancing cooling and airflow management can all contribute to better performance without requiring a complete rebuild.

Location is another critical aspect of sustainable data centre development. A facility's environmental efficiency is important, but connectivity, proximity to customers, disaster recovery considerations, and the ability to maintain workloads are equally essential. A highly efficient facility with poor connectivity or an unsuitable location may not be sustainable in the long run, especially as cloud capacity expands across Africa.

Considering AI workloads, which demand greater computing density and additional power and cooling infrastructure, sustainability discussions must focus on improving efficiency. The industry should view digital growth and environmental responsibility as complementary objectives, aiming to enhance efficiency while meeting the needs of digital services and economic activity.