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Showing posts with label Sustainable Technology. Show all posts
Technology
Artifcial Intelligence Data Centre Energy Quantum computing Sustainable Technology Technology

The Rising Energy Demand of Data Centres and Its Impact on the Grid

 



In a recent prediction by the National Grid, it's anticipated that the energy consumption of data centres, driven by the surge in artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing, will skyrocket six-fold within the next decade. This surge in energy usage is primarily attributed to the increasing reliance on data centres, which serve as the backbone for AI and quantum computing technologies.

John Pettigrew, the Chief Executive of National Grid, emphasised the urgent need for proactive measures to address the escalating energy demands. He highlighted the necessity of transforming the current grid infrastructure to accommodate the rapidly growing energy needs, driven not only by technological advancements but also by the rising adoption of electric cars and heat pumps.

Pettigrew underscored the pivotal moment at hand, stressing the imperative for innovative strategies to bolster the grid's capacity to sustainably meet the surging energy requirements. With projections indicating a doubling of demand by 2050, modernising the ageing transmission network becomes paramount to ensure compatibility with renewable energy sources and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Data centres, often referred to as the digital warehouses powering our modern technologies, play a crucial role in storing vast amounts of digital information and facilitating various online services. However, the exponential growth of data centres comes at an environmental cost, with concerns mounting over their substantial energy consumption.

The AI industry, in particular, has garnered attention for its escalating energy needs, with forecasts suggesting energy consumption on par with that of entire nations by 2027. Similarly, the emergence of quantum computing, heralded for its potential to revolutionise computation, presents new challenges due to its experimental nature and high energy demands.

Notably, in regions like the Republic of Ireland, home to numerous tech giants, data centres have become significant consumers of electricity, raising debates about infrastructure capacity and sustainability. The exponential growth in data centre electricity usage has sparked discussions on the environmental impact and the need for more efficient energy management strategies.

While quantum computing holds promise for scientific breakthroughs and secure communications, its current experimental phase underscores the importance of addressing energy efficiency concerns as the technology evolves.

In the bigger picture, as society embraces transformative technologies like AI and quantum computing, the accompanying surge in energy demand poses critical challenges for grid operators and policymakers. Addressing these challenges requires collaborative efforts to modernise infrastructure, enhance energy efficiency, and transition towards sustainable energy sources, ensuring a resilient and environmentally conscious energy landscape for future generations.


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Technology
AI Development AI technology Artificial Intelligence Environment Sustainable Technology Tech Giant Technology

AI Development May Take a Toll on Tech Giant’s Environment Image


The Reputation of tech giants as a safe investment for investors interested in the environment, social issues, and governance as well as consumers who value sustainability is clashing with a new reality – the development and deployment of AI capabilities. 

With new data centres that use enormous quantities of electricity and water, as well as power-hungry GPUs used to train models, AI is becoming a greater environmental risk.

For instance, reports show that Amazon's data centre empire in North Virginia has consumed more electricity than Seattle, the company's home city. In 2022, Google data centres used 5.2 billion gallons of water, an increase of 20% from the previous year. The Llama 2 model from Meta is also thirsty.

Some examples of tech-giants that have taken initiatives to reduce the added environment strain include Microsoft’s commitment to have their Arizona data centers consume no water for more than half the year. Also, Google announced a cooperation with the industry leader in AI chip Nvidia and has a 2030 goal of replacing 120% of the freshwater used by its offices and data centres.

However, these efforts seem like some carefully-crafted marketing strategy, according to Adrienne Russell, co-director of the Center for Journalism, Media, and Democracy at the University of Washington.

"There has been this long and concerted effort by the tech industry to make digital innovation seem compatible with sustainability and it's just not," she said. 

To demonstrate her point, she explains the shift to cloud computing and noted the way Apple’s products are sold and presented to show association with counterculture, independence, digital innovation, and sustainability, a strategy used by many organizations. 

This marketing strategy is now being used to showcase AI as an environment-friendly concept. 

The CEO of Nvidia, Jensen Huang, touted AI-driven "accelerated computing"—what his business sells—as more affordable and energy-efficient than "general purpose computing," which he claimed was more expensive and comparatively worse for the environment.

The latest Cowen research report claims that AI data centres seek power, which is more than five times the power used in a conventional facility. GPUs supplied by Nvidia consume around 400 watts of power, making one AI server consume at least 2 kilowatts of power. Apparently, a regular cloud server uses around 300-500 watts.

Russel further added, "There are things that come carted along with this, not true information that sustainability and digital innovation go hand-in-hand, like 'you can keep growing' and 'everything can be scaled massively, and it's still fine' and that one type of technology fits everyone." 

As businesses attempt to integrate huge language models into more of their operations, the momentum surrounding AI and its environmental impact is set to rise.

Russel further recommended that companies should put emphasis on other sustainable innovations, like mesh networks and indigenous data privacy initiatives.

"If you can pinpoint the examples, however small, of where people are actually designing technology that's sustainable then we can start to imagine and critique these huge technologies that aren't sustainable both environmentally and socially," she said.

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Technology
Drone Aircraft Sustainable Technology Technology

Flying V: the futuristic and sustainable drone aircraft makes it's first maiden flight


The Flying V took to air for the first time in July at a German Airbase with a successful flight albeit a slightly bumpy landing.

The image is a representation of the Flying V and not the actual aircraft.


Funded by KLM and Airbus, researchers and engineers from Dutch-based Technical University of Delft (TU Delft) successfully tested the scaled model of Flying V, named after it's 'V' shape. The drone is fuel efficient to quite a sizable degree and is designed to carry passengers in its wings.

TU Delft says, “computer calculations have predicted that the aircraft’s improved aerodynamic shape and reduced weight will reduce fuel consumption by 20% compared to today’s most advanced aircraft.” 

The aircraft has a unique 'V' design with passengers, cargo hold, and fuel tanks incorporated in the wings rather than the fuselage. The researchers estimate that it will save 20% fuel compared to present-day aircraft because of its shape and weight. The aircraft was first presented at the 100th anniversary of KLM, a Dutch airline, and has been one of the supporting partners along with Airbus. 

 Flight and Landing 

The researchers had some qualms with takeoff due to issues with rotation but it was smooth sailing during the actual test. Project Leader Dr. Roelof Vos said, “One of our worries was that the aircraft might have some difficulty lifting-off since previous calculations had shown that ‘rotation’ could be an issue. The team optimized the scaled flight model to prevent the issue but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. You need to fly to know for sure.” 

But both the flight and take off was smooth with a good thirst. The landing though was a bit jerky attributing (according to the researchers) to the design of the aircraft- which the team termed as too much 'Dutchroll'. The next step for the team would be to analyze the test flight and make further improvements to the design and aerodynamics.
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