The Growing Importance of Sustainability in Data Centers
In an era where sustainable energy solutions are more crucial than ever, significant strides are being made both in renewable energy technologies and in the commitment of tech giants to green practices. Fervo Energy, a leader in geothermal technology, has recently announced a milestone achievement in its next-generation geothermal power plant, marking a pivotal moment in renewable energy production. During a 30-day well test, standard for the geothermal industry, Fervo achieved a record-breaking flowrate of 63 liters per second at high temperatures, enabling an impressive 3.5 MW of electric production¹. This achievement sets new records for both flow and power output from an enhanced geothermal system.
In a groundbreaking feat, Fervo is the first company to successfully drill a horizontal well pair for commercial geothermal production, achieving lateral lengths of 3,250 feet and reaching a temperature of 191 °C². The company’s innovative approach, which involves applying drilling technology from the oil and gas industry, has proven effective in producing 24/7 carbon-free energy resources in new geographies globally³. The fact that Google is looking to partner with Fervo is proof that this technology is here to stay⁴. It just needs more research, but we can see that big tech companies are looking to find innovative ways to make this happen.
Looking at some other tech giants and their efforts for sustainability in cloud computing, we see the likes of Amazon both pledging to become net zero by 2040 and Microsoft aiming to be net negative⁵. This is a positive sign, however, execution will be very difficult to reach these challenging goals. Microsoft is investing in carbon reduction and removal technologies, and has even implemented a carbon tax across the country, whereas Amazon is focusing on increasing renewable energy across the company⁶.
The broader impact on the tech industry and the environment will be significant as these companies will inspire others to follow. The usage of data centers and cloud computing is also expected to rise dramatically in the next 10 years, as shown by the following study⁶. But overall, the key to achieving our global sustainability initiatives will be the leadership role of these major companies. We need leaders who are proficient with the technology, but still care about the environment and understand its impact in order to reach our global sustainability goals⁸.
References
[1] Fervo Energy. (2023). Fervo Energy Announces Technology Breakthrough in Next-Generation Geothermal. [online] Available at: https://fervoenergy.com/fervo-energy-announces-technology-breakthrough-in-next-generation-geothermal/ [Accessed 29 Nov. 2023].
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Terrell, M. (2023). [Interview] in Fervo Energy Announcement. Fervo Energy.
[5] Sustainability Magazine. (2023). Google, Amazon, Microsoft, the Cloud — and cutting carbon. [online] Available at: https://sustainabilitymag.com/sustainability/google-amazon-microsoft-cloud-and-cutting-carbon [Accessed 29 Nov. 2023].
[6] Ibid.
[7] AKCP. (2023). The Real Amount of Energy a Data Center Uses. [online] Available at: https://www.akcp.com/blog/the-real-amount-of-energy-a-data-center-use/ [Accessed 29 Nov. 2023].
[8] Ibid.
