As the data centre industry works to reduce its environmental impact, much of the focus has been on power consumption and operational emissions. However, a significant yet often ov...
As the data centre industry works to reduce its environmental impact, much of the focus has been on power consumption and operational emissions. However, a significant yet often overlooked contributor to carbon emissions in this sector is the concrete used in construction. Hyperscale giants such as AWS, Google, Meta, and Microsoft have pointed out in an open letter that materials commonly used in data centre buildings account for 23% of global carbon emissions, with concrete alone responsible for 11%. Concrete production, particularly the manufacture of Portland cement, is a major source of CO2 emissions, contributing to approximately 8% of global emissions.
Grant Quasha, CEO of Eco Material Technologies, emphasizes the massive scale of concrete use in construction and its detrimental environmental impact. He explains that while concrete is essential in building infrastructure, traditional methods of production have made it highly emissions-intensive. The process of making Portland cement—an essential component of concrete—requires immense heat, often powered by fossil fuels, resulting in significant carbon emissions. This highlights the urgent need for sustainable alternatives within the construction industry. Eco Material Technologies is taking action by repurposing waste materials, especially fly ash from the power sector, to replace highly polluting cement in concrete mixtures. This innovative approach aims to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete used in data centres and other infrastructure projects.
Data centre operators are facing increasing pressure to meet sustainability goals, and concrete emissions are a significant challenge. Quasha states, "Data centres have two big emissions problems: power and embedded emissions from construction, with concrete being the largest contributor." The response from leading tech companies has been encouraging, with some like Meta actively testing advanced materials to find optimal concrete mix designs for their data centres. This hands-on approach signals a shift in the industry, where developers and contractors traditionally paid little attention to the environmental impact of concrete specifications. However, with growing awareness and collaboration among tech giants, the sector is becoming more proactive in addressing this issue.
Eco Material Technologies offers a variety of solutions to help reduce emissions in data centre construction. Their entry-level approach involves using traditional supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to achieve a 20-25% reduction in emissions. SCMs, such as fly ash, slag, and silica fume, can replace a portion of the traditional cement in concrete, improving sustainability without compromising the material’s performance. For more significant savings, their advanced product, PozzoSlag, can replace 50-60% of traditional cement, effectively doubling emissions reductions while remaining cost-neutral. PozzoSlag has been proven to maintain the strength and durability needed for large-scale construction projects, making it a viable alternative to traditional methods. These solutions are already making a difference beyond data centres, with Eco Material’s materials being used in major infrastructure projects like Samsung’s semiconductor facilities in Texas, SpaceX’s launch platforms, and TSMC’s chip factories in Arizona.
Quasha estimates that Eco Material Technologies' products are used in over half of the data centres built in the US, with notable installations including AWS’s facility in Jackson, Mississippi, Google’s data centre in Kansas City, and Tech Data Logistics’s site in Fontana, California. In the Northern US region alone, the company claims it has helped prevent the emission of 80,000 metric tons of CO2 from data centre construction in the past year. This figure underscores the growing influence of green building materials in the data centre sector and highlights the positive environmental outcomes achieved through sustainable practices. With the market for green construction materials expanding rapidly, this number is expected to grow, as more companies prioritize sustainability in their construction efforts.
Looking ahead, the data centre industry is moving towards greater transparency in emissions reporting, particularly through the use of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). These declarations provide detailed verification of emissions throughout the supply chain, similar to the way barcodes provide information about a product's origins. EPDs help ensure that companies and consumers have access to reliable data on the environmental impact of materials, aiding informed decision-making. Quasha notes that this shift is underway, especially in the US, where EPDs are becoming more common. EPDs offer in-depth verification, detailing the embedded emissions of materials and their entire journey from production to installation. This transparency will allow stakeholders to track progress and hold companies accountable for their sustainability commitments.
As the data centre industry continues to evolve, it is clear that concrete emissions represent a crucial challenge. With advancements in materials technology and an increased focus on sustainable construction practices, the sector is beginning to address its environmental impact in a more holistic manner. Through initiatives like Eco Material Technologies' innovative products and the wider adoption of EPDs, the industry can make significant strides in reducing its carbon footprint. The path to more sustainable data centre construction is becoming clearer, with a growing commitment to reducing the embedded emissions of materials and fostering a more eco-conscious approach to infrastructure development.