to 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY
GDS,
DON'T POWER
THE INTERNET OF THE
FUTURE
USING THE ENERGY OF THE PAST
Why do data centres matter?
Data centres drive the Internet on which our global, interconnected world relies. But it comes at a cost. China’s data centres are powered 73% by coal -- and by 2023 they will consume more power than the whole of Australia. GDS lags far behind its global competitors on renewables.
WHY GDS SHOULD COMMIT TO
100% RENEWABLE ENERGY
DATA CENTRES HAVE A COAL PROBLEM
China’s data centre industry consumed almost as much energy as the city of Shanghai in 2018. Coal, which reportedly powers 73% of China’s data centre industry, is making this worse. Choices made by GDS today can make a long-lasting impact on our energy system.
GDS'S GROWING DATA CENTRES BUSINESS AND CARBON FOOTPRINT
GDS is the largest carrier-neutral data center operator in China. It operates over 50 data centers, covering approx. 340 thoudsand square meters, a size quadrupled in the last three years. GDS needs to face its growing energy demand and carbon emissions.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY IS NOT ENOUGH
Data centre companies including GDS have been work hard to optimise energy efficiency and keep their PUE low. It's great, but it's not enough to solve our climate crisis.
SMALL CHANGES CAN HAVE A HUGE IMPACT
If the sector’s renewable energy intake in China increases by just 7%, 16 million tonnes of carbon emissions can be avoided by 2023, equal to the emissions from roughly 10 million round-trip transatlantic flights.
CHINA HAS HUGE RENEWABLE ENERGY POTENTIAL
China is home to more renewable energy capacity than any other country in the world. GDS can play a leading role in China’s clean energy future.
GDS CAN AND SHOULD GO 100% RENEWABLE
GDS has one data centre using significant renewable energy, but it can do much more. Many other data centres companies, such as Chindata and Equinix have already set 100% renewable targets.
sources: Equinix, 2020 / Chindata, 2020 / RE100, 2020
HOW THE SECTOR IS SHIFTING
AMAZON
Last year, Amazon committed to reach 100% renewable energy by 2030, and it is investing a 100 MW solar project in Shandong,China. Once complete, the project is expected to generate 128,000 MWh of renewable energy annually.
sources: CX Tech, 2020 / Amazon, 2020