The digital age continues to rapidly evolve, driving up the global demand for digital services, and with it, the energy consumption of data centers. In fact, data centers are fast becoming some of the largest users of electricity, with demands expected to more than double by 2030 according to the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI). That’s why MITEI recently unveiled the Data Center Power Forum—an initiative to bring industry leaders and researchers together in a bid to address the power challenges of our data-driven world.
In the United States alone, 4% of electricity in 2023 was used by data centers, and with the rapid growth of artificial intelligence technologies, this figure is predicted to rise to 9% by 2030. This swell in energy use is not only placing a strain on our electric grid, but it’s also signaling potential impacts on energy prices and availability.
MITEI has recognized the need to act swiftly. The Data Center Power Forum has been set up to stir collaboration and innovation, aiming to strategically manage the complex interactions between AI, data center operations, and sustainable energy use. MITEI has a long-standing history of advocating energy-efficient solutions and this new forum adds to its repertoire. The aim is clear: to engineer a roadmap to sustainable growth for data centers and plan for grid expansion.
With numerous MITEI companies already expressing excitement about the initiative, resources are being allocated to support targeted research to understand and control the energy implications of expanding data centers. The forum’s remit extends to scrutinizing elements such as energy supply, electricity market design, and the regulatory frameworks around them. The forum also promises to tap into MIT’s wider expertise in compatible technologies, such as low-power processors, efficient algorithms, and quantum computing.
At the helm of this endeavor is Deep Deka, a MITEI research scientist who encapsulates the complexity of this mission, stating, “We’re looking at everything from expanding grid transmission capacity to ensuring that existing users aren’t negatively affected when new data centers come online. We’re also exploring how to shift computing tasks to times and locations where energy is more readily available.”
One of the strongest features of the Data Center Power Forum is its capacity to drive dialogue across sectors. On the occasion of MITEI’s Fall 2024 Annual Research Conference, a significant discussion emerged on the challenge of powering data centers sustainably with representatives from giants like Google, Microsoft, and others.
The Future Energy Systems Center, a key pillar of MITEI, continues to sponsor a wide range of research projects, all aiming to augment the sustainability of data centers. Future funding cycles will keep the momentum going in this indispensable area of research. Indeed, the goal of the Data Center Power Forum is to foster an environment of mutual problem-solving as we face a steep rise in data center power demands.
Professor William H. Green, Director of MITEI, notes the unique opportunity to discuss key data center challenges within this collegial platform of industry and academic experts. It’s initiatives like the Data Center Power Forum that will aid in powering our digital future, ensuring growth is balanced with sustainability and inclusivity.
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