EU Data Centres Power Up for a Greener Future

The European Union recently announced plans for data centres to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. As major energy consumers, this is a positive step toward a more sustainable and green future. We will be exploring the strategies that data centres are adopting to reach this objective, as well as looking at the increasing demand for sustainable-led skills.

The EU is taking steps towards achieving a greener future. Their recently implemented regulations have been put in place with the aim for climate neutrality in data centres by 2030. This goal is ambitious for sure, not only will it have a significant impact on the data centres industry, but also on the in-demand job skills and potential recruitment strategies.

Companies Leading The Way

Some companies are already leading the way in their sustainability practices in their data centres:

Equinix:
They prioritise sustainability through energy-efficient data centres, renewable energy use, and LEED certifications for new builds.

AirTrunk:
They build hyper-scale data centres with a focus on sustainability, by utilising cooling technologies, renewable energy, and prioritising water conservation in their facilities.

EdgeConneX:
They emphasise energy efficiency and sustainable practices throughout their data centre network, prioritising renewable energy and water conservation strategies.

The Push for Sustainability

So why is the EU pushing for sustainability within data centres?

Climate Change Mitigation:
The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions has been a major objective for the EU in its move towards a greener future. And with data centres being significant energy consumers, accounting for roughly 1-3% of the global electricity consumption – they are a critical target for improvement.

Resource Efficiency:
By promoting the efficient use of energy and water resources this can with long-term environmental and economic sustainability. Data centres can be significant water consumers, especially for their cooling systems. Therefore, optimising water usage alongside energy efficiency becomes crucial in this context. As new data centres are being built, they are focusing on sustainability reporting of their water and energy usage to help them comply with these regulations.

Growing Demand:
As the demand for data storage and processing needs continues to rise, driven by factors such as cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT), ensuring that data centres are environmentally friendly has become essential. Sustainable practices have become not just a responsibility but also a way of managing resources effectively to guarantee continued growth.

The Key Focus Areas

Taking these reasonings into account the new regulations will primarily focus on these key areas:

Energy Efficiency:
Data centres will need to optimise their power usage and cooling systems to help significantly reduce their energy consumptions.
This could involve strategies such as:

Server Virtualisation	By consolidating workloads onto fewer physical servers this can lead to significant energy savings.
Energy-Efficient Hardware	Replacing older equipment with newer, more energy-efficient models can have a substantial difference.
Advanced Cooling Technologies	Utilising innovative cooling solutions that minimise energy usage, such as liquid cooling systems, is becoming increasingly important.
Data Centre Infrastructure Optimisation	Optimising the airflow management and layout within the data centre can also contribute to energy efficiency.

Renewable Energy Integration:
Adopting renewable energy sources like solar and wind power will become increasingly important.
This could involve:

On-Site Renewable Energy Generation	Installing solar panels or wind turnings on-site can significantly reduce reliance on the energy grid and their carbon footprint.
Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)	By entering into agreements with renewable energy providers they can secure access to clean energy sources.

Sustainable Design and Construction:
Building data centres with energy-efficient materials and construction methods will be a major focus.
This might include:

Using Sustainable Building Materials	Moving away from traditional building techniques to use alternative less CO2 heavy materials can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of data centres.
Modular Construction	Utilising prefabricated modules for data centre construction can reduce waste and construction time.
Designing for Energy Efficiency	Integrating features like natural daylighting and passive cooling into the data centre design can contribute to lower energy consumption.

The Skillset Change

As the EU implements their regulations the shift towards sustainability is creating new opportunities and a rise in demand for specific skills in the data centre workforce:

Energy Efficiency Expertise:
With the push for sustainability, professionals who have expertise in optimising energy performance for data centres will be highly sought-after. They will have skills in areas such as:

Power and cooling system analysis and optimisation.
Energy efficiency modelling and simulation.
Data centre infrastructure design for efficiency.

Renewable Energy Integration Specialists:
The demand for specialists skilled in integrating renewable energy sources into data centre operations will be crucial. They will need knowledge of:

Renewable energy technologies such as solar and wind.
Grid integration and power management.
Regulatory requirements for renewable energy use in data centres.

Sustainable Data Centre Design and Construction:
Architects, engineers, and construction specialists who are skilled in sustainable data centre design and construction will find themselves more in demand, they will need to be experts in:

Sustainable building materials and construction methods.
Energy-efficient data centre design principles.
Building Information Modelling (BIM) for sustainable design.

Beyond the Technical Skills

As well as developing their technical expertise, data centre professionals will also benefit from developing the following skills:

Sustainability Reporting:
Being able to understand and comply with sustainability reporting requirements will be essential. These requirements may involve data collection and reporting on energy consumption, water usage, and waste generation.

Circular Economy Principles:
This is implementing practices that will minimise waste and maximise resource recovery within data centre. This could involve extending the lifespan of data centre equipment through refurbishment and reuse, as well as implementing recycling and waste management strategies to minimise environmental impact.

Partnering with Thor

So how can we at Thor help you?

This transition towards green sustainability presents an exciting opportunity for skilled professionals, and we are here to support you.

Matching You with the Right Opportunities:
We recognise that the needed skillset of the industry is evolving, so by thoroughly understanding your background, experience, and career aspiration, we can connect you with data centre positions that align perfectly with your strengths and your interest in sustainability.

CV and Interview Coaching:
Our experienced consultants can provide bespoke guidance on how best to format your CV to showcase your skills and experience relevant to sustainable data centre practices. We also offer interview coaching to further assist you in securing your new role.

Market Insights and Salary Negotiations:
We stay up to date on industry news, including salary benchmarks for data centre professionals. Therefore, equipping you with the knowledge to negotiate competitive compensation packages when the opportunity presents itself.

Networking Opportunities:
We have a vast number of connections within the data centre industry, so we can introduce you to potential employers who are actively seeking data centre candidates with your expertise in sustainability.

Career Guidance and Long-Term Support:
We are committed to your long-term career success. We offer ongoing career guidance and support, helping you to stay informed about industry trends and explore potential career paths within sustainable data centres.

So, are you ready to take the next step in your career?

Contact our expert consultants who are ready to help you find your next role in the data centre industry.