If the Internet was a country it would be the 5th biggest energy consumer in the world

[Another excellent analysis by Greenpeace on the threat that the Internet poses in terms of energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The dramatic growth of the data centers that power the Internet are the heavy industry of the information age.
As Greenpeace notes, too much focus is on energy efficiency which will only slow down the rate of growth, whereas changing the type of energy to renewable sources will have a much more positive impact and enable zero emissions. The challenge, of course, with renewable energy is its unpredictability and reliability. That is why we need new thinking in how to build network and “electrical packet” highways that use this type of power and still provide reliable services. The Greenstar project (http://www.greenstarnetwork.com/node/108/)– the world’s first zero carbon cloud/Internet is a great example of this new type of thinking. Universities, funding councils and networks should be playing a leadership role in this area and have a moral responsibility to society in making sure their eInfrastructure or cyber-infrastruture is zero carbon. Electrical packet highways, such as PRIMOVE technology being deployed by Bombardier are another example. Some excerpts from Greenpeace report – BSA]

How dirty is your data
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/climate/2011/Cool%20IT/dirty-data-report-greenpeace.pdf

Internet Uses More Electricity In U.S. Than Auto Industry
http://www.disinfo.com/2011/05/internet-uses-more-electricity-in-u-s-than-auto-industry/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+disinfo%2FoMPh+%28Disinformation%29

The electricity consumption of data centres may be as much as
70% higher than previously predicted.
•The combined electricity demand of the internet/cloud (data
centres and telecommunications network) globally is 623bn kWh
(and would rank 5th among countries).
•Based on current projections, the demand for electricity will more
than triple to 1,973bn kWh, an amount greater than the
combined total demands of France, Germany, Canada and Brazil

Efficiency is not enough

While a few companies have clearly understood that the source of
energy is a critical factor in how green or dirty our data is, and have
demonstrated a commitment to driving investment attached to
clean sources of electricity, the sector as a whole still seeks to
define 'green' as being 'more efficient'. This failure to commit to
clean energy in the same way energy efficiency is embraced is
driving demand for dirty energy, and is holding the sector back from
being truly green.
But as the electricity demand of IT remains on the rise, efficiency
can only slow emission growth. In order to achieve the reductions
necessary to keep the sector’s emissions in check and maintain
safe levels of global greenhouse gases, clean energy needs to
become the primary source of power for IT infrastructure. A few
companies have taken steps to steer their infrastructure
investments toward cleaner energy, but the sector as a whole
remains focused on rapid growth. The replacement of dirty sources
of electricity with clean renewable ones is still the crucial missing
link in the sector’s sustainability efforts.
Data centres to house the explosion of virtual information
currently consume 1.5-2% of all global electricity; this is growing
at a rate of 12% a year.
•The IT industry points to cloud computing as the new, green
model for our IT infrastructure needs, but few companies provide
data that would allow us to objectively evaluate these claims.
•The technologies of the 21st century are still largely powered by
the dirty coal power of the past, with over half of the companies
rated herein relying on coal for between 50% and 80% of their
energy needs.
•IT innovations have the potential to cut greenhouse gas
emissions across all sectors of the economy, but IT’s own
growing demand for dirty energy remains largely unaddressed by
the world’s biggest IT brands.
••Data centre clusters (Google, Facebook, Apple) are cropping up
in places like North Carolina and the US Midwest, where cheap
and dirty coal-powered electricity is abundant.
•IT companies are failing to prioritise access to clean and
renewable energy in their infrastructure siting decisions.
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Electrical packet Highways – where the electric automobile is a “packetized” form of energy transport

Green Investment Opportunity for small business - on the move electric car charging
http://green-broadband.blogspot.com/2010/04/green-investment-opportunity-for-small.html

How California suburban sprawl could be the answer to global warming
http://green-broadband.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-california-suburban-sprawl-could-be.html

Honda’s Roadside Electric Vehicle Charging
http://www.plugincars.com/honda-explores-electric-vehicle-solar-charging-106587.html

A new look at an old idea: Powering autos from the grid
http://green-broadband.blogspot.com/2011/03/new-look-at-old-idea-powering-autos.html

Electric roads and Internet will allow coast to coast driving with no stopping and no emissions
http://green-broadband.blogspot.com/2011/05/electric-roads-and-internet-will-allow.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenIt%2FbroadbandAndCyber-infrastructure+%28Green+IT%2FBroadband+and+Cyber-Infrastructure%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

Bombardier’s Primove
http://www.bombardier.com/en/transportation/sustainability/technology/primove-catenary-free-operation



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Green Internet Consultant. Practical solutions to reducing GHG emissions such as free broadband and electric highways. http://green-broadband.blogspot.com/
email: Bill.St.Arnaud@gmail.com
Bill@St-arnaud.org
twitter: BillStArnaud
blog: http://billstarnaud.blogspot.com/
skype: Pocketpro