The UK has a significant data center industry, aided by its proximity to Europe and generally mild climate. National Grid ESO estimates that there will be between 400 and 600 known data centers operating in the UK in 2022. But how many of us are prepared for the climate crisis?
On a mountainside in Norway, 800 miles from London, the cold concrete is illuminated by the light of a fantastic server. This is his SVG-1 Rennesoy, a disused NATO ammunition bunker converted into a data center. Cooled by renewable hydroelectric power, the site was originally designed to withstand nuclear explosions and natural disasters.
It’s not alone. From Paris to Kent, disused bunkers are being given new life as data centres. It is usually touted for its security, which is a key concern for businesses looking to protect personal data. But they may also have potential for climate resilience. Abandoned bunkers designed for an impending apocalypse could provide shelter for the world’s data centers.
In 2020, Microsoft piloted a UDC off the coast of the Orkney Islands, claiming it was eight times more reliable than land-based centers. Since then, China has launched its first underwater data center (UDC) off the coast of the tropical island of Hainan. The center will be cooled using seawater. China Daily Reports suggest that 30,000 cubic meters of water could be saved per megawatt per year.
Meanwhile, researchers at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University argue that servers don’t have to be cool at all. They suggest that 56% of cooling costs could be saved by keeping the center at 41°C instead of 21°C. In theory, high temperatures could make the core more resistant to heat waves. However, the exact temperature range can be disrupted by temperature fluctuations.
Data centers are located below ground, out of sight and out of mind. However, modern crises reveal the reality that lies beyond our screens. This is an apt metaphor for the climate crisis, the effects of which are all too easily obscured by distance, political noise, or greenwashing. Extreme weather events can expose structural weaknesses and fault lines in infrastructure designed for a cooler planet.
More fundamentally, it can reveal cultural blind spots. The 2022 outage should serve as a reminder that the climate crisis affects everything, including the internet.
Since the heatwave, Loughborough University has modernized its data center to make it more resilient. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust has committed to reviewing its data centers and facilities. Others should follow suit. While centers around the world aim to achieve carbon neutrality, physical protection against extreme weather events has received less attention. We need to leverage the ingenuity of the world’s top scientists and architects to update our infrastructure.
We need to redefine our relationship with the planet on a global scale. The internet reminds us of connection, but we need to prioritize our connection to the natural world. Otherwise, the next heatwave could cause much worse than a blank screen.
Chris Poole is a member of Big Issue’s Breakthrough program
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