I recently wrote a blog entry about Google’s patent for an offshore data center. My post was well received in the office and much discourse was produced upon its reading. In fact, many of my co-workers were keen to the forward looking idea and the concept catalyzed everyone’s imagination. In the course of our break room conversations, we discussed various scenarios, environments, and locations ideal for building a green data center. However, of the many great ideas developed during our pseudo deep dive, none were scalable, few were practical, and most lacked the ability to be implemented in the foreseeable future.
A few days later, while reading an article about Iceland’s economic woes with the recent break room conversation on my mind, I realized a green data center did not require a patent pending design or a wave powered vessel. Rather, a data center could be green if placed in a location dependent upon green, renewable energy. And, how did this revelation occur? Iceland.
You see, Iceland, like Google’s offshore data center, is almost wholly reliant on renewable energy. It’s estimated that over 82% of Iceland’s electricity is created by renewable sources. Additionally, since 2006, the island nation has produced over 9.7 Billion Kilowatt hours of electricity per year from renewable sources.
Due to Iceland’s unique geological environment where the 200 volcanoes and 600 hot springs create a perfect environment to harness the geothermal power of the earth, renewable energy is in abundance. Add in plentiful waterfalls and glacial rivers able to produce hydroelectric power and Iceland is well on its way in becoming a 100% carbon free country with the ability to support green data centers. Further adding to its appeal is Iceland’s proximity to the United States and Europe creating a viable destination for data centers as both geographies could be served by the location.
While cost, connectivity, and business climate are certainly drivers for data center sites, searching for data center locations where green and renewable electricity is readily available is an imperative for organization’s dedicated to cutting carbon emissions. Just so, locations with an abundance of renewable energy, like Iceland, need to take the lead and push organizations to move or build their data centers at green locations. Together, an amicable relationship between industry and government can be formed for the benefit of our planet.
To learn more about Iceland’s abundant sources of renewable energy, check out this story from ABC News.
