Data Center Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions

Much of the data center industry’s focus is now on identifying data center greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and opportunities to reduce those, which encompasses energy efficiency in both mechanical and electrical systems. Scope 1 emissions are those the data center is directly responsible for—emissions produced by backup generators, for example. Scope 2 data center emissions are a data center’s indirect GHG emissions, such as those created in the production of electricity used by the data center. Scope 3 data center emissions are the result of activities from assets not owned or controlled by the data center, but that the data center indirectly affects in its value chain—for example, the emissions generated in the production and transport of MEP infrastructure.

Businesses of all kinds are paying more attention to these broader sustainability metrics. Most hyperscalers and third-party data center providers have committed to science-based emissions reductions targets—in line with limiting global warming to well-below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Many have announced plans to achieve net-zero emissions or even be carbon negative by 2030. In some cases, progress toward science-based targets is internally motivated, but in an increasing number of cases, it’s being mandated if even implicitly— as in markets where public concerns about data centers’ energy and water use have led policymakers to deny new construction permits.

Establishing a baseline for Scope 3 emissions, setting targets, and then achieving those targets is the most significant challenge in the industry today. Success requires collaboration across the value chain, which is one reason why Stream is proud to be a member of the iMasons Climate Accord, a “coalition united on carbon reduction in digital infrastructure” which has the mandate to “achieve global carbon accounting of digital infrastructure to influence market-based decisions and drive the industry to achieve carbon neutrality.”

Explore more in our whitepaper Liquid Cooling is More Sustainable and article What We (Don’t) Know About Data Center Sustainability.