IDC predicts cloud computing could cut CO2 emissions by 1 billion tonnes over next four years

IDC specialists prepared a forecast in which they assessed the effect of the introduction of cloud computing on carbon dioxide (CO₂). Forecast claims further cloud computing could prevent more than 1 billion tonnes of CO emissions₂ in the period from 2021 to 2024.

The forecast uses IDC data on server distribution, cloud and on-premises software usage, as well as third-party information on data center energy use, CO2 emissions per unit of energy use, and comparisons of cloud and non-cloud data center emissions.

A key factor in reducing CO emissions₂associated with cloud computing, is the higher efficiency of aggregated computing resources. The reduced emissions are driven by the aggregation of computing from discrete enterprise data centers to large-scale centers that can better manage capacity, optimize cooling, use the most energy efficient servers, and maximize server utilization.

At the same time, analysts emphasize that the amount of savings depends on the specific emissions per kilowatt of generation, and this parameter varies greatly from region to region and from country to country. Unsurprisingly, the greatest opportunity to reduce emissions comes from migrating to cloud data centers in regions with higher CO emissions.₂ per kilowatt hour. The Asia-Pacific region, which uses coal to generate most of its electricity, is expected to account for more than half of the emission reductions in the next four years. Meanwhile, the EMEA region will provide about 10% savings, mainly through the use of energy sources with lower emissions per kWh.

While switching to cleaner energy sources is very important for reducing emissions, reducing energy losses will also play a critical role. Cloud data centers do this by optimizing the physical environment and reducing the amount of energy used for cooling. The goal of an efficient data center is to spend more energy on running IT equipment than on cooling the environment in which it resides.

Another cloud computing opportunity that can be used to reduce CO emissions₂, Is the transfer of workloads anywhere around the world. Designed to deliver IT services wherever needed, this capability also allows workloads to be shifted to enable greater use of renewable resources such as wind and solar power.

IDC’s projection includes upper and lower bounds for projected emission reductions. If the share of green cloud data centers remains unchanged, a simple move to the cloud could save 629 million tonnes over a four-year period. If all data centers in use in 2024 were designed with new considerations, 1.6 billion tonnes could be saved. IDC’s forecast of over 1 billion tonnes is based on the assumption that by 2024, 60% of data centers will employ the technologies and processes that underpin more resilient smart data centers.