... an international collaborative research project.

By Andrew Mackarel, HEAnet Program Manager, Network Development Group

Data Centres are today providing more and more ICT (information and communications technology) as a service.  This includes conventional application services like web hosting and e-mail, as well as evolving forms such as: cloud, grid, and utility computing; storage; and networking. As Data Centres get larger and more complex, they demand and consume more and more carbon energy power sources. The increasing demand for power as well as the need for extra cooling requirements is escalating the ICT Sector’s carbon footprint especially for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. The urgent need to reduce these GHG emissions will affect both the providers and customers of ICT services. Customers will have to balance environmental impact against price and service qualities. Consequently, the ICT service marketplace is about to change dramatically.

Continue reading below...