The world has a big data centre problem. While they may be increasingly necessary in the hyper-connected AI age, it’s hard to deny that our over-reliance on power-guzzling data centres is impacting climate goals. From consuming staggering amounts of electricity and water to polluting local communities, the costs are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Not all data centres are built the same, though. In fact, we’re proud that our very own data centres run on 100% green energy. But for better or worse, it’s simply too late to turn back the clock – some of the biggest companies in the world are now wholly reliant on these massive data centres to stay online.
So what if we told you that there are ways to direct this energy usage for good? And that some data centres are already being used to heat entire towns in Scandinavia? It’s not far-off science fiction – it’s a present-day reality.
How much energy do data centres use?
“The data centre energy debate has become critical as our data requirements have accelerated exponentially,” says Fasthosts Managing Director Rupert Bedell. But it’s not average-sized, low power data centres (like ours) that are at the heart of this debate – it’s those large, mega-corporation data centres that take electricity, water, and resources away from nearby residents.
These centres consume the equivalent energy needed to power up to 400,000 electric cars. What’s worse, data centre power usage is expected to surge sixfold in the next 10 years, magnifying any current issues.
“As well as planning new data centres to the highest sustainable standards, companies will need to think in more radical terms to avoid the advancement of AI creating an unwitting environmental disaster,” Rupert adds.
Data centres for good
With great power comes great responsibility – especially when you’re talking about data centres. While massive innovation is still needed to ensure their usage won’t detract from climate ambitions, there are some positive steps being made across the globe. “New data centres are being planned in colder natural environments, with more consideration given to how we use heat and power byproducts,” says Rupert.
From repurposing waste heat to supporting the development of clean energy, there are plenty of examples of how new and existing data centres are being reimagined…
Heating homes in Finland
Finland has been tapping into the potential power of waste data centre energy to heat residential homes for the past 10 years. Now, when residents in the town of Mäntsälä turn up their thermostat or switch on their shower, they have the nearby Nebius Group NV facility to thank. And this isn’t just helping a select few – coverage extends to 2,500 homes in the town.
Accelerating nuclear fusion in the UK
UKAEA Culham Campus in Oxfordshire is set to become home to a high-powered data centre, which will use its waste power to help sustain a digital twin prototype fusion energy power plant on the same site. This data centre will play an important role in helping the UK achieve its goal to build a commercial grid-ready fusion reactor by 2040.
Supporting data centres with geothermal energy
Meta and Sage joined forces back in August 2024 to begin working on a massive geothermal engineering project that will expand the US’s carbon-free energy capabilities. The first phase of the project will hopefully be operational by 2027 and will be used to sustainably power some of Meta’s biggest data centres.
Developing sustainable data centres in Uzbekistan
A recently announced pilot project by Data Volt will invest €185 million to build a completely sustainable data centre in Tashkent’s sought-after IT park. This all comes as part of a wider investment in the country as a whole, with €4.6 billion pledged to Uzbekistan over the next five years to digitally transform the country and nurture its strong talent pool.
And the innovation doesn’t stop there. “It’s not a stretch to begin imagining future data centres on the moon or in orbit, making use of unlimited solar power with negligible environmental impact,” Rupert adds.
Host with 100% green energy
Here at Fasthosts, we know a thing or two about green energy. In fact, our data centre in Worcester runs 100% on it.
So when you choose Fasthosts to host your website, you’re not just purchasing a product – you’re making an investment in the future of sustainable data centre innovation. Get in touch with our team today to find out more about our climate goals and how we can boost your business with expert tech support.
