Industries worldwide continue to demonstrate their commitment to net-zero by 2050. For many energy-intensive industries, the data centre sector could be part of the solution to decarbonising and the road to net zero emissions. Ireland has long been known for its high-tech construction capability so it should come as no surprise that Irish innovation in engineering and technology are helping the data centre industry in its drive toward sustainability.

Speaking ahead of the Pan African Data Centre Conference being held in Johannesburg at the Sandton Convention Centre this week, Regional Director for Enterprise Ireland in Africa, Nicola Kelly said ‘Ireland’s strength as a location for data centres has led to the development of a world-class cluster of companies with an unparalleled competency in data centre design, build and fit-out. A particular area of strength for Irish companies is owner-occupied, hyperscale data centres, supporting the EMEA growth of global technology companies. It is the depth of this experience that I would encourage African data centre players to tap into - there are very few challenges that Irish companies have not encountered across the construction process and Irish companies are renowned for their partnership approach and repeat business.’

Innovations in engineering and technology are increasing circular initiatives and the decentralisation of energy, heat and water treatment. These are areas in which African data centre stakeholders can partner with Irish companies to prioritise sustainable energy, low energy consumption and maximise the use of intelligent systems in the design and build process.

The African continent’s economic dynamism, youthful and rapidly urbanising population coupled with the fastest-growing middle class in the world, ensure the African data centre industry is on a set course for growth. As the African data centre industry burgeons, emphasis has tended to be on speed, scale and efficiency. However, with grid instability, energy scarcity and increasing sustainability efforts, the sector has accelerated its path towards net zero emissions.

The high-tech construction industry can be competitive, but sustainability efforts are encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing, prioritising collective progress over competition. It is very positive to see owners, operators, contractors, and governments uniting to deliver inspiring projects, advance circular initiatives and decentralised energy solutions. Key areas to highlight are:

Decentralising power is a critical area, not just in South Africa. Some data centres use energy resources on-site, like batteries, with enough power for several minutes if the grid fails. Many organisations are beginning to look beyond grids, exploring energy resources like wind and solar. Fuel cells are another alternative – powered by green hydrogen with no emissions but warm air and water.

Digitising supply chains can help drive more sustainable decision-making and greater efficiency in building at speed. Digital platforms help push projects forward and provide quality, up-to-date data that can reduce errors and streamline the handover process.

Building offsite for sustainability has led to a growth of modular construction. Designing for manufacture and assembly in controlled environments not only streamlines the building

process, but it can improve quality and sustainability too. Often, these elements are pre-built in the factory, tested, and then installed right away, whether it’s a data centre, retail unit, factory, or

pharmaceuticals plant. Along with reducing construction time, modular building lowers costs and the need for as many experienced hands at the site itself.

On a water-scarce continent like Africa, metrics like WUE (water usage effectiveness) developed by The Green Grid, help data centres measure how much water a facility uses for cooling and other building needs. By using WUE in conjunction with power and carbon usage effectiveness metrics, an organisation can reduce the amount of water and electrical power needed to run the data centre. Hyperscalers like Facebook and Microsoft are already actively monitoring WUE.

“It is an evolving industry, tackling decarbonisation head-on and Ireland is keen to partner with the African data centre industry to continue to develop innovative solutions to build better,” adds Kelly.

At the Pan African Data Centre Conference, Enterprise Ireland will launch a 2023 White Paper on ‘The Road to Decarbonisation: Lessons from the Irish Journey’ as well as a digital directory of Irish suppliers to the industry.