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High-performance computing infrastructure and AI work together to provide powerful amounts of data and insights. With HPC infrastructure and generative AI as a backbone, organizations around the world can drive operational efficiencies, accelerate business decisions, and foster growth at a rapid pace while streamlining everyday workloads.
However, while HPC centers and/or AI data centers are revolutionizing global markets and industries in limitless ways and creating a surge in information, they are also creating a surge in power usage.
According to a 2024 Forbes article, Big Tech companies and industries are spending tens of billions of dollars every quarter on artificial intelligence accelerators, which has led to a massive increase in power consumption across the board.
As of 2024, multiple forecasts and data points have revealed soaring data center energy demand. As a result, it is forcing data centers to scale from tens of thousands to 100,000-plus accelerators. As such, data center efficiency is now a mission-critical problem that needs to be solved all around the globe.
The surge in energy consumption
Recent projections have shown that this AI-driven power demand will not slow down anytime soon. For example, Wells Fargo is projecting AI power demand to surge 550% by 2026, from 8 TWh in 2024 to 52 TWh, before rising another 1,150% to 652 TWh by 2030.
The Electric Power Research Institute also forecasts that data centers may see their electricity and energy consumption more than double by 2030. This surge will encompass 9% of the total electricity demand in the United States alone.
However, high-performance computing infrastructure and AI are necessary for businesses to stay ahead of the curve, and on the cutting edge of technology and growth, so the scenario is very much a catch-22 situation in many ways.
HPC infrastructure and generative AI can’t be ignored or dialed back, but organizations and data centers are at a moment in time where smarter energy decisions need to be made now to power the future.
Innovations in energy efficiency
The good news is that modern data centers that want to be part of the solution and not the problem are taking steps to ensure more energy efficiency without sacrificing power or connectivity. For example, at DartPoints we are focused on ensuring the availability, security, and reliability of your data and systems at our strategically placed data centers. Furthermore, we’re also embracing the newest initiatives to ensure our data centers are as energy efficient and as powerful as possible.
A sample of the sustainable steps modern data centers are taking includes the following.
Liquid cooling systems
Liquid cooling systems offer a wide range of advantages over traditional cooling systems. They provide superior heat removal efficiency, reduced energy consumption, quieter operation, and better thermal management. This is especially true in high-density computing environments, where liquid cooling systems ensure better connectivity and capabilities, regardless of the power demands.
Renewable energy sources
Renewable energy sources are also being integrated into power solutions for data centers, such as solar, wind, and geothermal power. This allows for more sustainable operations and less reliance on fossil fuels, which reduces the overall carbon footprint.
Large companies that require the highest power demands in the world, like Google and Microsoft, are leading the way in this transition towards renewable energy for their own data centers, and it’s a trend that is readily growing in energy- efficient data centers everywhere.
Other advancements
Advances in server architecture, such as more efficient power supplies and direct-to-chip cooling technologies, are also creating more energy- efficient data centers while ensuring more reliable operations 24/7.
Balancing act: performance vs. environmental impact
When it comes to the future of power consumption, it’s important to note that current technologies and measures, (like the ones listed above for more energy -efficient data centers) exist, as well as new advancements on the horizon.
Each subsequent generation is likely to be more power efficient than the last generation, and this is now a necessary next step as AI-driven power consumption continues its meteoric rise. Simply put, creating a balance between power consumption and efficiency while delivering increasing levels of computing capabilities will be the main focus as we advance.
In fact, most data centers are expected to catch up to modern facilities like DartPoints’ data centers by adopting liquid cooling technologies to meet accelerating cooling requirements. In addition, DartPoints is taking other steps to increase its abilities and reduce power consumption.
The role of edge computing
Edge computing is also on the rise and refers to a distributed computing framework that moves data storage and processing closer to the local devices that produce and use the data. Edge computing has a range of benefits over traditional cloud computing setups, which can include the following:
- Reducing the strain on central data centers by processing data locally leads to energy savings.
- Enables better traffic management and reduces network congestion.
- Provides faster, real-time insights on all device data.
- Allows devices to process data quickly and act on it as needed.
- It has the potential to improve sustainability while reducing energy.
However, edge computing also has its drawbacks. It can have limited processing power compared to larger data centers, network connectivity issues, security and privacy concerns, and management complexity.
In fact, managing data across multiple edge servers can be a considerable challenge. It tends to require in-depth knowledge and frequent maintenance to perform at its best.
Deploying and using edge computing is a complex venture. However, it’s a consideration for organizations that need a better and more sustainable way to access and use the vast amounts of data they require.
Embracing the future with High-Performance Computing and AI with DartPoints
At DartPoints, we are at the cutting edge of sustainability and environmentally friendly initiatives without sacrificing quality, accessibility, reliability, and security.
In our modern era, as high-performance computing infrastructure and AI become necessary for an organization to thrive and grow, industry stakeholders must prioritize both technological advancements and sustainability to safely succeed well into the future.
As your power and data needs grow, DartPoints can help. We understand that your requirements may change, and rapidly in our ever-advancing world, and we’re standing by to help you identify the best data center and other solutions now and miles into the future.
Ready to unlock the next level of efficiency and power with HPC and AI?