Indian IT services giant Infosys has recently announced a strategic partnership with energy company Shell to drive the adoption of immersion cooling services in data centers. This collaboration aims to harness the strengths of both organizations in digital and energy domains, supported by a network of partners, to create an integrated solution for environmentally friendly data centers.
The Joint Vision for Sustainability
Infosys EVP and Global Head of Sustainability, Services, Utilities, Resources and Energy, Ashiss Kumar Dass, emphasizes the shared goal of creating a more sustainable future. The collaboration intends to leverage AI-based digital solutions to establish environmentally responsible data centers capable of managing high computing loads efficiently through optimized hardware.
The Environmental Impact of Data Centers
Data centers currently contribute to approximately 1.5% of global electricity consumption and 1% of global CO2 emissions, according to recent industry estimates. With the anticipated growth in AI workers, energy consumption and CO2 emissions from data centers are expected to rise significantly.
Shell’s Immersion Cooling Technology
Aysun Akik, VP New Business Development and Global Key Accounts Downstream & Renewables at Shell Lubricants, highlights the potential of Shell’s immersion cooling technology in reducing data center energy use and helping businesses fulfill their sustainability commitments. The technology, based on Shell’s gas-to-liquids (GTL) process, is designed to cut costs, enhance performance and reduce the environmental footprint of data center operations.
Infosys’ Commitment to Sustainability
Infosys asserts its commitment to sustainability by revealing that it achieved carbon neutrality in 2020, surpassing the Paris Agreement’s timeline by 30 years. This commitment aligns with the company’s dedication to incorporating green practices and technologies into its operations.
Testing Immersion Cooling Technology
The immersion cooling technology is anticipated to demonstrate up to a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions ad a 48% decrease in energy footprint production. Shell and Infosys plan to conduct tests utilizing both Shell’s immersion cooling and Infosys’ digital solutions. The pilot phase will take place in the data centers of both companies before extending the offering to other customers globally.
Global Outreach and Future Prospects
Following the successful pilot, Infosys and Shell intend to extend their sustainable data center offering to customers worldwide. The collaborative effort aims to provide comprehensive data center optimization toolkits, combining Shell’s immersion cooling technology with Infosys’ digital solutions to help organizations decarbonize their operations.
Important Questions Related to Exams
Q1. What is the aim of the partnership between Infosys and Shell?
Sol. The partnership aims to drive the adoption of immersion cooling services in data centers for creating environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions.
Q2. How much do data centers contribute to global electricity consumption and CO2 emissions?
Sol. Data centers contribute approximately 1.5% to global electricity consumption and 1% to global CO2 emissions.
Q3. What technology does Shell bring to the collaboration for reducing data center energy use?
Sol. Shell introduces immersion cooling technology, based on its gas-to-liquids (GTL) process, to cut costs and reduce the environmental foot-print of data center operations.