Full Title: Powering the Data-Center Boom with Low-Carbon Solutions: China’s Perspective and Global Insights
Author(s): Ting Li, Wei Li, Dengfeng Liao, Yujing Liu, Ziyi Liu, Guangxu Wang, Meng Wang, and Hongyou Xu
Publisher(s): Rocky Mountain Institute
Publication Date: November 29, 2024
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
Transitioning data centers to reduce emissions is a global imperative, but it faces four key challenges: poor coordination in energy infrastructure planning, untapped energy efficiency potential in buildings and IT systems, difficulty in scaling up green electricity consumption, and weak policy and market incentives. This report analyzes these challenges and proposes pathways for decoupling the growth of data centers from rising emissions. Key actions include optimizing data center location and design, improving energy efficiency through applying more rigorous standards, adopting low-carbon and grid-friendly power consumption behaviors, and fostering green development through policy and market collaboration.