Data centres can go green with biomass, water retention and clean power

The study explains that energy use in data centres is dominated by two processes: computing and cooling. Together, they account for roughly 80 percent of total electricity consumption. Unlike most industrial facilities, data centres convert nearly all consumed electricity into heat, creating a continuous and predictable stream of waste heat. This characteristic, the authors argue, creates both a problem and an opportunity. If unmanaged, waste heat drives up cooling demand and emissions. If captured and reused, it can become a valuable energy resource.

The rapid expansion of digital infrastructure is pushing data centres to the centre of the global energy and climate debate. Data centres are no longer just technical facilities. They are now critical test cases for whether digital transformation can align with environmental responsibility.

That challenge is the focus of the study Green Data Centres: Sustainable Solutions with Green Energy and Green–Blue Infrastructure, published in the journal Energies. The research provides a comprehensive assessment of how data centres can reduce their environmental footprint by combining renewable energy, biomass production, and nature-based infrastructure while maintaining operational reliability and economic viability .

Digital growth collides with energy and climate limits

Data centres have become indispensable to modern economies, supporting everything from financial transactions and healthcare systems to social media platforms and artificial intelligence models. The study outlines how this digital dependency is driving a sharp rise in electricity demand. In the European Union alone, data centre electricity consumption is projected to grow from just under 100 terawatt-hours in 2022 to nearly 150 terawatt-hours by 2026, a level comparable to the annual consumption of entire countries. Globally, data centres already account for up to 1.5 percent of total electricity use, with further growth expected as AI workloads intensify.

This surge comes at a time when governments are under pressure to cut greenhouse gas emissions and transition to climate-neutral economies. European climate policy, including the Green Deal and stricter building performance rules, is placing new obligations on energy-intensive infrastructure. Data centres, once largely exempt from environmental scrutiny due to their role in economic growth, are now facing mounting regulatory and social pressure to demonstrate sustainability.

The study explains that energy use in data centres is dominated by two processes: computing and cooling. Together, they account for roughly 80 percent of total electricity consumption. Unlike most industrial facilities, data centres convert nearly all consumed electricity into heat, creating a continuous and predictable stream of waste heat. This characteristic, the authors argue, creates both a problem and an opportunity. If unmanaged, waste heat drives up cooling demand and emissions. If captured and reused, it can become a valuable energy resource.

Historically, sustainability assessments of data centres have focused narrowly on power usage effectiveness, a metric that compares total facility energy use to the energy consumed by IT equipment. While useful, the study finds that this approach is no longer sufficient. It fails to capture water consumption, embodied carbon in construction materials, land use impacts, biodiversity loss, and the broader environmental footprint over the full life cycle of a data centre.

In response, the authors propose a more comprehensive framework that reflects the complexity of modern sustainability challenges. This includes evaluating renewable energy integration, waste heat recovery, water use efficiency, life-cycle carbon emissions, land use impacts, and the ability to match electricity demand with carbon-free energy on an hourly basis. By broadening the lens, the study positions data centres not just as energy consumers but as active components of local energy, water, and ecological systems.

Green energy and infrastructure reshape data centre design

Sustainable data centres, as the research reveals, are already technically feasible, but only when energy systems, building design, and land use are treated as an integrated whole. Through a review of twelve international case studies, the authors identify a growing shift toward renewable energy sources such as geothermal power, hydropower, wind, solar, and biogas. Many leading facilities are located in regions with favourable natural conditions, including cool climates that reduce cooling demand or access to renewable energy infrastructure.

Several data centres examined in the study rely entirely or primarily on renewable power, demonstrating that high availability and reliability can be achieved without fossil fuel dependence. Others supplement renewable electricity with innovative solutions such as biogas fuel cells linked to wastewater treatment plants or agricultural waste streams. These systems convert organic waste into electricity and heat, creating closed-loop energy flows that reduce emissions and improve resilience.

Cooling technologies are another major area of innovation. The study highlights the use of free air cooling, seawater cooling, and advanced liquid cooling systems that significantly cut electricity use compared to conventional air conditioning. In some cases, waste heat from servers is captured and reused for district heating or industrial processes, turning a by-product into a valuable resource.

Beyond energy systems, the research places strong emphasis on green and blue infrastructure, an area often overlooked in data centre design. Green infrastructure includes vegetation, green roofs, and biologically active surfaces that support biodiversity, improve microclimates, and enhance thermal performance. Blue infrastructure refers to water management systems such as rainwater retention basins, infiltration zones, and greywater reuse.

The authors argue that integrating these elements into data centre sites can deliver multiple benefits. Vegetation can reduce heat island effects and improve insulation, lowering cooling demand. Water retention systems can reduce flood risk, support cooling processes, and enhance local resilience to climate extremes. Biomass production linked to green infrastructure can supply renewable energy inputs while strengthening ecosystem services.

Despite these advantages, the study finds that most existing data centres still prioritise technical efficiency over ecological integration. Green roofs, green walls, and water retention features remain relatively rare, even among facilities branded as sustainable. The authors suggest that this gap reflects both regulatory limitations and a lack of integrated planning approaches that connect energy engineering with landscape design and urban planning.

From case studies to a blueprint for sustainable data centres

The study deeply examines a planned Green Data Centre project in Michalowo, Poland. This pilot project serves as a practical demonstration of how the principles outlined in the research can be applied in a real-world context. Designed in collaboration with academic and industry partners, the facility is planned to operate entirely on renewable energy supplied by nearby biogas plants and a photovoltaic farm.

The project integrates energy production, data processing, and ecological design within a single site. Heat generated by servers is intended to be reused through adsorption chillers powered by waste heat from biogas plants, reducing electricity demand for cooling. Green roofs and green walls are incorporated into building design to improve thermal performance and expand biologically active areas. Rainwater retention basins and planted landscapes support water management, biodiversity, and biomass production.

According to the authors, this hybrid, multi-functional model demonstrates how data centres can move toward self-sufficiency while reducing environmental impact. By combining energy generation, waste heat recovery, water management, and green infrastructure, the facility is designed to address both operational emissions and embodied carbon across its life cycle.

The study also outlines a set of recommendations aimed at guiding future data centre development. These include prioritising renewable energy and waste heat reuse, minimising life-cycle carbon through material choices and design optimisation, adopting flexible building layouts, and integrating blue–green infrastructure as a core component rather than an optional add-on. The authors stress that sustainability should be measured dynamically, with continuous monitoring of carbon intensity, water use, and energy performance rather than relying on static benchmarks.

Importantly, the research does not ignore limitations. The authors acknowledge that published case studies tend to highlight successful projects, potentially overstating the maturity of green data centre solutions. They also note gaps in quantitative data on the performance of blue–green infrastructure and call for more research into how nature-based solutions can be measured and optimised in technical facilities.