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Making the internet globally sustainable: Technical and policy options for improved energy management, governance and community acceptance of Nordic datacenters

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  • Sovacool, Benjamin K.
  • Monyei, Chukwuka G.
  • Upham, Paul

Abstract

Both policymakers and the technology industry need to do more to combat the ever-growing demand for data and its associated energy impacts. In this study, based on novel corporate data, expert interviews, focus groups with members of the public, extensive site visits across Greenland, Iceland and Norway and a literature review, we look at the energy and climate impacts of existing and proposed datacenters, both quantitatively and in terms of stakeholder and public perceptions. The paper examines datacenter management and sustainability practices in the Nordic region. It explores what community impacts occur, and how communities manage conflicting objectives. It investigates the technical and policy options that can make datacenters more sustainable and/or lower-carbon and it explores associated stakeholder and public views in the three countries. In exploring these themes, our study examines the shifting energy governance of datacenters, including patterns of electricity consumption and cooling but also circular economy operations and power densities. We also analyze a series of 40 solutions for eco-friendly design or green datacenter management across the entire lifecycle. We conclude with implications for energy and climate policy as well as future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Monyei, Chukwuka G. & Upham, Paul, 2022. "Making the internet globally sustainable: Technical and policy options for improved energy management, governance and community acceptance of Nordic datacenters," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:154:y:2022:i:c:s1364032121010625
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2021.111793
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2019. "Toxic transitions in the lifecycle externalities of a digital society: The complex afterlives of electronic waste in Ghana," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    2. Joshua Aslan & Kieren Mayers & Jonathan G. Koomey & Chris France, 2018. "Electricity Intensity of Internet Data Transmission: Untangling the Estimates," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 22(4), pages 785-798, August.
    3. Oró, Eduard & Depoorter, Victor & Garcia, Albert & Salom, Jaume, 2015. "Energy efficiency and renewable energy integration in data centres. Strategies and modelling review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 429-445.
    4. Eric Masanet & Arman Shehabi & Jonathan Koomey, 2013. "Characteristics of low-carbon data centres," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 3(7), pages 627-630, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Furszyfer Del Rio, Dylan D. & Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Griffiths, Steve & Bazilian, Morgan & Kim, Jinsoo & Foley, Aoife M. & Rooney, David, 2022. "Decarbonizing the pulp and paper industry: A critical and systematic review of sociotechnical developments and policy options," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).

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