INTRODUCTION

Global investment in data centres is surging on the back of rapid expansion of AI, big data analytics, and growth of largescale computing and data-storage systems. Investment is expected to reach more than $1tr by 2029, and by 2030 it is expected that data centres globally will use double the amount of electricity they did in 2022.

This level of investment and energy demand will require careful and considered strategies and planning. The demand for land, energy, water, nature conservation and the needs of local communities will have to be balanced with the rewards of delivering big tech. 

The next few years will be critical, as operators face a complex set of risks that need to be factored into investment and design decisions. 

Environment Analyst’s latest free guide ‘Delivering Sustainable Data Centres’ provides recommendations to help companies involved in delivering data centres navigate the path to growth sustainably, and with resilience.