Doubling Down on Sustainability Commitments: Six Practical Solutions to Meeting the AI Challenge

AI Mirroring Energy Use

The numbers tell a sobering story. The rise of AI is fueling demand for high-volume processing, with data centers projected to consume 2% of global electricity in 2025—about 536 TWh—doubling to 1,065 TWh by 2030. Malaysia is fast becoming a heavyweight in the data center arena, and Johor exemplifies this rapid expansion. In early 2021, the state’s data center capacity stood at just 10MW. By 2024, this capacity has surged to over 1,500MW, according to DC Byte.

Generative AI is the driving force behind this expansion, with investment in mission-critical infrastructure expected to rise from $125.35 billion in 2024 to $364.62 billion by 2034. While this growth unlocks new possibilities across the world, but also raises pressing sustainability concerns, requiring a fundamental shift in how data centers source, manage, and consume energy.

What’s At Stake

AI is reshaping industries and is projected to add $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. However, it’s a double-edged sword. Malaysia’s Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has cautioned against these environmental impacts, prompting the government to adopt a more selective approach to tech investments.

Johor’s AI-driven data centers illustrate this concern, with projections of electricity demand hitting over 5,000 MW by 2035 and applications for supply already surpassing 11,000 MW—nearly 40% of Peninsular Malaysia's power capacity. While AI increases productivity, it also intensifies power consumption, heat generation, and emissions, requiring advanced cooling solutions.

Simultaneously, data center infrastructure management solutions integrated with AI analytical power can proactively simulate and address enterprise data center challenges. In the face of growing global attention on sustainability, inaction is no longer an option. With Malaysia’s focus on sustainability, the industry has a clear mandate: embrace sustainability and efficiency as environmental imperatives as well as smart business strategies. The good news is there are tremendous benefits to this approach.

Six Practical Solutions

Above all else, a commitment to sustainability must be practical. To curb AI’s environmental impact, operators must tackle three core challenges: strengthening sustainability strategies, addressing Scope 3 emissions, and meeting regulatory demands. Here’s how:

1. Evaluate Infrastructure for Efficiency: Identifying inefficiencies in cooling systems, server utilization, and energy management for significant improvements.
2. Adopt Efficient Infrastructure: Transitioning to modern servers, advanced cooling systems and renewable energy sources to reduce carbon footprint. Designing facilities with energy efficiency in mind and retrofitting older infrastructures can further optimize energy usage and contribute to substantial savings.
3. Collaborate With Sustainable Suppliers: Sustainability isn’t achievable in isolation. By collaborating with suppliers committed to decarbonizing their supply chains, operators can effectively address Scope 3 emissions, the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions for businesses.
4. Leverage Advanced Reporting Tools: Real-time monitoring enables operators to identify inefficiencies and implement corrective measures promptly, optimizing energy use.
5. Leverage AI For Optimization: AI can play a significant role in efficiently allocating resources, predicting maintenance requirements, and integrating renewable energy—ultimately minimizing waste and lowering emissions.
6. Continuously Reassess and Improve: Sustainability is an ongoing effort - regular assessments, benchmarking against industry standards, and adopting best practices will drive lasting progress.

Second Best Time

You can’t go back in time to plant a tree, but you can do the next best thing and plant one today. The time to rethink your sustainability agenda is now. As AI accelerates growth in the data center industry, it is crucial to take immediate action to rein in carbon emissions. While expertise and resources may be limited, companies can collaborate with vendors offering sustainability services to craft comprehensive strategies for a greener future.