Creating a Connected World: Data Centres of the Future

At present, an astounding 85% of the world’s population owns a smartphone. The widespread adoption of this technology illustrates our constant engagement with data. The increased use of smartphones contributes significantly to global data usage, which McKinsey estimates will grow 10% a year until 2030.

The global volume of data produced has grown 74–fold from 2010 to 2023, reaching 120 zettabytes, and is projected to hit 180 zettabytes during 2025. Demand for data storage is surging due to cloud computing, mobile and online use, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence.

Data centres are one of the most energy intensive buildings within the built environment, consuming around 1% of global electricity and accounting for 3.5% of total greenhouse gas emissions.

These facilities are fast becoming the backbone of our digital society. As we rethink a net zero future, our industry has to be increasingly circular, modular and sustainable in the design and delivery of energy–intensive infrastructure for the 21st century. As data centres are such large consumers of water and power, this sector has the opportunity to lead the integration of innovative technologies to drive the net zero agenda.