In recent years, the use of thegenerative artificial intelligence (AI) has increased significantly, leading to a growing demand for data centers. However, these data centers take up a lot of space and consume large amounts of energy. To address these challenges, Europe is considering the idea innovative of move data centers in the space. This could be a crucial step towards achieving the Green Deal’s carbon neutrality goals by 2050.
A recent study conducted by Thales Alenia Space has demonstrated that moving these physical structures into orbit is technically, environmentally and economically feasible.
“Today we can say that the results are very encouraging,” Damien Dumestier, the study’s lead author, told Euronews. “We have found a solution that is technically feasible, economically sensible and has a lower carbon footprint than the terrestrial one.”
The project, which lasted 16 months and cost 2 million euros, was coordinated by Thales Alenia Space on behalf of the European Commission. The study highlighted how data centers Spacemen can contribute significantly to reducing energy consumption and the space occupied on Earth.
Data Center Energy Consumption
Data centers are critical infrastructures that house computer systems and large volumes of data, accessible from anywhere in the world. However, their operation requires a lot of energy. According to estimates by the International Energy Agency (IEA), by 2026, data centers could consume up to 1,000 terawatt hours per year, equivalent to the electricity consumption of Japan.
The idea of space data centers is based on the use ofsolar power for power. Despite the technical feasibility, such an ambitious project will probably not be realizable before 2036Kevin Restivo, head of European data center research at real estate consultancy CBRE, highlighted how big technology companies, such as Microsoft, Amazon Web Services and Google, are among the main buyers of data center space.
Challenges and opportunities
Restivo points out that many European metropolitan markets suffer from power shortages, making it difficult to find suitable land for new data centers. This is leading to the construction of data centers in non-traditional areas, such as the recent purchase of Microsoft of a plot of land in Yorkshire, in the north of England.
The idea of moving them into space, while innovative, is still in development and presents several challenges. Ad exampleto be energy efficient, space data centers need a new type of launcher with emissions significantly reduced. Furthermore, it is crucial to ensure that these data centers do not contribute to the problem of space debris.
Dumestier He mentioned that negotiations are underway with the French group Ariane and a German space company to develop a more environmentally friendly launcher. Although it is not currently feasible, it could become so in the future.
Despite the challenges, these space-based facilities could offer several benefits. They could help restore data sovereignty to Europeans and provide Europe with an opportunity to become a leader in the space sector. They could also open new doors for other technological applications and accelerate the development of space technologies, such as robotics and launch vehicles.
A key aspect is to ensure that the materials used are reusable, thus promoting sustainability. In this way, data centers could have a long lifespan and significantly reduce their environmental impact.
The idea of moving data centers into space represents an innovative and sustainable solution to the growing demands of data processing and energy consumption. Despite The many challenges, the potential long-term benefits make this project worth pursuing. Europe has the opportunity to take the lead in this emerging field, while promoting sustainability and technological innovation.
Are you in favor of moving data centers into space to reduce carbon footprint? Share your thoughts in the comments!
#Data #Centers #Space #Europe #Considers #Moving