This vision has been outlined in a recent journal article by the School’s Digital Decarb Design Group, revealing the immense energy challenges posed by unchecked digital data growth.
In this publication in Energy Policy, Loughborough Business School academics Vitor Castro, Tom Jackson, and Ian Hodgkinson present econometric models showing the world’s current trajectory towards a ‘data doomsday’.
Digital data is generated by humans in every corner of the world, and the creation and consumption of digital data is growing rapidly. Data centres alone consume more power than the entire UK and are estimated to contain 65% dark data – digital knowledge assets that are used once and then forgotten about.
Drawing on available evidence, they show how the projected generation of renewable energy will not be sufficient to meet global demand for electricity from digital data growth in the coming years. Alarmingly, if society continues at current rates, by 2033 this electricity demand from data will outstrip total global electricity production.
Speaking about their latest findings, Dr Castro said: “This isn’t just a technical challenge; it’s a societal imperative. We must shift from consumption-driven growth to sustainable practices that align digital advancements with ecological limits.”
Their article encapsulates Loughborough Business School’s progress with purpose ethos, as Professor Hodgkinson added: “Being purpose-led means changing opinions, practices and policies. That means working with others to influence and instigate real change. The data doomsday forecast is a mechanism to drive change and co-action.”
The hope of the team is that this forecast will help to foster policies that champion energy efficiency, reduce data waste, and encourage a shift towards a greener digital infrastructure as we strive for net zero by 2050.
Professor Jackson noted: “By encouraging this shift, Loughborough Business School seeks to influence transformative change, co-action, and co-operation within the digital sector for a sustainable future”.
The paper, Digital data demand and renewable energy limits: Forecasting the impacts on global electricity supply and sustainability, is published by Energy Policy.