Giant data centres, more than 20 times larger than they were less than just a few years ago, are in the pipeline with the emergence of AI and machine learning putting massive demand on data storage.
“AI is real,” according to Robin Khuda, the co-founder of AirTrunk, one of Asia-Pacific’s fastest-growing data centre operators, who last year told the AFR that “the level of growth we are seeing right now is something we have not seen in 10 years. It’s remarkable.”
However, whilst the industry, already worth US $194.81 billion, is expected to mushroom over the coming decades, “greening up” the data centre lifecycle, including the design, construction, procurement, operations, maintenance and retirement of equipment, is amongst the most important decisions faced by an industry that must materially reduce its footprint.
Speaking at Data Center World last month, Priyal Chheda, Sustainability lead for Corgan—North America’s top data centre architect—said the industry is now in a state of flux, with developers struggling to meet ambitious net-zero targets.Â
“Work is needed now if targets for 2030 are going to be met,” Ms Chheda said, adding that “instead of focusing on the difficulties, data centre managers should look for opportunities for good return on investment via sustainability measures.” That includes mass timber construction, vital to slashing embodied carbon and meeting net zero targets in North America and worldwide.
Last year, the UN calculated that by replacing steel, concrete, glass and aluminium with timber and bio-based construction materials, the world could lower emissions by up to 40%.
According to Paul Shorthouse, an economic advisor who also serves as managing director for the Circular Economy Leadership Canada initiative, “mass timber is safe, fire-resistant, of comparable strength, lighter weight and can be disassembled and refurbished with relative ease.”
And whilst Ms Chheda warned that mass timber might not be the best option for data halls, she said architects and engineers must collaborate to determine the best areas where timber can be used based on its innate strength, fire resistance, and cost.Â
Where mass timber is not suitable, she said Portland cement substitutes like Blue Planet, which creates net-zero concrete, will be crucial in constructing future centres – increasingly squeezed by green tape.
“Regulations are quickly coming down the pike, and investors often impose sustainable requirements,” said Karen Petersburg, Vice President of Development and Construction at PowerHouse Data Centres.
“There has been a shift from greenwashing towards engaging in legitimate sustainability efforts,” Ms Petersburg said, adding that regulators and institutional investors increasingly expect developers to use products supported by EPDs – a challenge for the traditional construction supply chain.
“We need traceability such as where the copper came from if we are going to change how we think about sourcing, sustainability and recycling,” according to Phill Lawson-Shanks, chief innovation and technology officer at Aligned Data Centres, who added that “concrete alternatives will play a part as concrete is the biggest sink of carbon globally.”
- To find out why the UN is pushing for timber to replace steel, concrete and glass in future buildings, visit Wood Central’s special feature. Click here to learn more about why embodied carbon is driving a new boom in timber-based buildings.
