The need for sustainability within computing has never been so prevalent. Artificial intelligence, large language models, and high-performance computing require energy intensive processes that are only contributing to increased carbon emissions, that are both harmful to the environment and to an extent, the reputation of companies within the sector. IDTechEx's portfolio of Semiconductors, Computing & AI Research Reports covers sustainability trends and developments for data centers and semiconductors, and why these are vital to decarbonizing the computing landscape.
Data centers as a huge carbon contributor
Carbon emissions from data centers are on the rise as a result of fast-growing computing demands, appearing in line with increasing AI and high-performance computing applications. Net-zero targets are a hot topic amongst governments and many companies operating within the sector, with many hyperscalers, including Microsoft and Meta, aiming to be carbon neutral by the end of the decade.
Renewable energy options for data centers include wind and solar power, though despite their relatively low costs and market maturity, there are issues with intermittency. Other alternatives include hydrogen fuel cells, geothermal energy, grid-scale Li-ion batteries, and small modular nuclear reactors, some of which are covered in IDTechEx's portfolio ofEnergy & Decarbonization Research Reports.
A large proportion of emissions related to data centers in recent years has been as a result of increased construction and the carbon within building materials, alongside the manufacturing of internal components including semiconductors and servers. The implementation of carbon credits, choosing low-carbon materials such as green concrete and green steel, and opting for IT hardware without such high carbon footprints, are three key trends emerging that may help to abate some of the indirect emissions accumulated by data centers. IDTechEx's report, "Sustainability for Data Centers 2025-2035: Green Technologies, Market Forecasts, and Players", covers new technologies and approaches to decarbonizing data centers, as well as exploring thermal management, assembly, and forecast trends.
The gradual transition to semiconductor sustainability
The gradual transition to more sustainable semiconductor manufacturing will positively contribute to reducing the overall carbon footprints of data centers, as although small in size, semiconductors have a huge role to play in high performance computing. Semiconductor manufacturing energy usage is predicted to reach 736 billion kWh by 2035, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 12.0%. The need for sustainability is more prevalent than ever, with electronics manufacturing processes using large numbers of materials and chemicals and having a negative environmental impact as a result.
Green electronics is a concept explored IDTechEx's report, "Sustainable Electronics and Semiconductor Manufacturing 2025-2035: Players, Markets, Forecasts", which would see new sustainable materials and manufacturing methods adopted, with room for innovation at each level of the value chain. Some of the possibilities for mitigating environmental damage from semiconductor manufacturing could include low temperature processing, and recycling and re-using some materials. Aside from obvious sustainability goals such as lowering emissions, reducing water consumption, and switching to cleaner materials, scalability will also be a huge goal for manufacturers, in order to feasibly maintain changes to production. IDTechEx also explores the impact of global supply chains within the semiconductor manufacturing sector and describes the regional legislations and regulations that will have global impact, resulting in common goals for the integration of new methods.
For more information on environmental impacts, innovation, and sustainability goals within the sector, visit IDTechEx's portfolio of Semiconductors, Computing & AI Research Reports and the reports, "Sustainability for Data Centers 2025-2035: Green Technologies, Market Forecasts, and Players" and "Sustainable Electronics and Semiconductor Manufacturing 2025-2035: Players, Markets, Forecasts", for trends, forecasts, and key developments.
