Ameer Randolph
The internet has become an integral part of our daily lives, enabling us to connect, work, and access information from anywhere in the world. However, this convenience comes at a cost. The energy required to power the internet and its associated infrastructure contributes significantly to our global carbon footprint. In 2020, the energy needed to provide internet access accounted for approximately 1.7% of total global energy consumption, with data centres alone consuming around 1% of global electricity use. While many companies claim to use renewable energy sources, the reality is that a significant portion of the energy powering the internet still comes from fossil fuels. This has led to the internet emitting around 300 million tonnes of CO2 annually, comparable to the emissions from burning fossil fuels in countries like Turkey or Poland. As internet usage continues to grow, it's crucial to address the environmental impact and transition towards more sustainable energy sources for data centres and online services.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Energy Source | Fossil Fuels |
| Energy Consumption | 1% of global electricity use |
| Energy Demand | Increased significantly due to the digital revolution |
| Carbon Emissions | 1.7 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases per year |
| Data Centres | Collections of computers that make up the back end of a system; consume around 1% of global electricity use |
| Cloud Services | Data centres with hundreds of thousands of machines stored in enormous buildings |
| Cooling Systems | Necessary to keep computers operating at a safe temperature; energy-intensive |
| Internet Habits | Individual activities have a small carbon footprint, but billions of activities add up quickly |
| Renewable Energy | Some companies are transitioning to renewable energy sources, but fossil fuels are still necessary for grid stability |
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What You'll Learn
Data centres and servers
Data centres are the "brains" of the internet, processing, storing, and communicating all the data behind the services we rely on daily. As global internet usage has grown, so has the demand for data centre services, and the energy required to run them.
Data centres use various IT devices, all of which require electricity. Servers provide computations and logic in response to information requests, while storage drives house the files and data needed. Network devices connect the centre to the internet, and cooling equipment keeps the IT devices from overheating. Servers and cooling systems account for the greatest share of direct electricity use in data centres.
The number of internet users worldwide has more than doubled since 2010, while global internet traffic has expanded between 20 and 25-fold. This has led to rising energy use from data centres, which currently account for 1-1.5% of global electricity use. However, rapid improvements in energy efficiency have helped moderate this growth.
Data centre providers are increasingly aware of the need to balance consumer power needs with efficient energy usage. Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) scores show that data centres are operating more effectively now than in previous years. However, there is still room for improvement, especially as demand for data centre services is expected to continue rising.
To increase sustainability, data centre developers have several options: building in areas with renewable energy, generating renewable power on-site, or improving energy efficiency. Several major data centre operators have set targets to use 100% clean electricity. Digital technologies can help achieve these goals by shifting computing tasks to times and regions with plentiful low-carbon sources.
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Energy demand
The internet's energy demands are significant, accounting for approximately 1.7% of total global energy consumption in 2020. This figure is expected to increase as more people gain access to the internet and its many applications. The energy used to power the internet comes from various sources, including fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which made up 82% of the global energy mix in 2023.
In the United States, fossil fuels dominated the energy mix in 2023, accounting for about 84% of total primary energy production. While the US has seen a decrease in fossil fuel consumption in recent years, with a significant shift towards renewable energy sources, fossil fuels still play a major role in ensuring the stability of the power grid.
The energy-intensive nature of data centers, which are essential for storing and processing data, contributes significantly to the internet's energy demands. Amazon, for example, is a major provider of computing power and operates servers that require a lot of energy to run. While Amazon and other cloud storage companies have pledged to increase their use of renewable energy, their current operations still rely heavily on fossil fuels.
The growing number of internet users, especially in emerging markets, is driving increased demand for electricity. The exponential growth in data and internet usage has led to a surge in the need for data centers, which, in turn, increases energy consumption.
The internet's energy demands have environmental consequences, contributing to global carbon emissions and climate change. It is estimated that internet use accounts for 1.7 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually, similar to the emissions of the global airline industry. However, countries are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint, with an increasing focus on investing in and transitioning to renewable energy sources.
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Energy sources
The internet is a network of networks, consisting of billions of devices, computers, and servers that consume a lot of energy. This energy often comes from fossil fuels, which has a negative impact on the environment by releasing greenhouse gases and contributing to climate change.
Data Centres
Data centres are collections of computers that make up the backend of a system. They are necessary to keep the internet running and are energy-intensive. The energy used to power data centres can come from fossil fuels, depending on their location. For example, data centres in China are mostly powered by coal. In the US, data centres account for 2% of the country's electricity use, while globally they account for just under 200 terawatt-hours.
Cloud Services
Many businesses now use cloud services for their data centre needs, which means hiring another company to provide the physical devices to store their data. Cloud service data centres are massive, with hundreds of thousands of machines stored in large buildings. Each computer requires power to operate, and the energy used to cool these machines must also be considered.
Devices
The devices we use to access the internet, such as cell phones, laptops, and tablets, also consume energy. Streaming videos, especially on mobile networks, is more energy-intensive than streaming audio. Watching videos on platforms such as Netflix and YouTube accounts for over 50% of all internet traffic.
Renewable Energy
While the internet currently relies heavily on fossil fuels, there is a shift towards renewable energy sources. Companies like Amazon aim to use 100% green electricity by 2025, and some data centres already run on renewable energy. Additionally, improvements in technology have made devices more energy-efficient, and the grid stability provided by fossil fuels in the US is decreasing as renewable energy sources increase.
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Carbon emissions
The internet has a significant carbon footprint, with data centres, streaming, and manufacturing all contributing to emissions. The internet releases around 300 million tonnes of CO2 annually, comparable to the fossil fuels burned in Turkey or Poland, or more than half of the UK's fossil fuel consumption. This figure is expected to grow as internet usage increases, with ICT's carbon footprint projected to climb by 60% by 2030.
Data centres are a major contributor to the internet's carbon emissions. These centres require constant cooling, power backups, and high-speed connectivity, consuming significant energy. Globally, data centres account for just under 200 terawatt-hours, with the US figure at 2% of the country's electricity use. While some companies claim to use renewable energy, data centres in certain regions still rely heavily on fossil fuels. Amazon, a significant provider of computing power, has acknowledged the environmental impact of its energy usage and aims for 100% green electricity by 2025.
The energy consumed by network infrastructure, including routers, switches, and cables, also contributes to the carbon footprint. The manufacturing and transportation of electronic devices result in substantial greenhouse gas emissions. Extending the lifespan of devices can help reduce these emissions, as each device's production and disposal contribute significantly to its overall carbon footprint.
Internet usage itself also generates carbon emissions. Every online action, from sending emails to streaming videos, consumes energy. On-demand video services like Netflix and Amazon Prime account for a significant share of emissions, with Netflix's energy consumption powering 37,000 homes. Additionally, music streaming has an impact, with a single popular music video estimated to consume as much electricity as five countries in a year.
While individual habits can help reduce emissions, such as turning off unused devices and upgrading equipment less often, significant change requires industry action. The IT industry's emissions are predicted to reach 14% of global emissions by 2040. To meet the UN's target of a 45% reduction in emissions by 2030, companies must transition to renewable energy sources and phase out fossil fuels.
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Renewable energy
Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions. In 2023, fossil fuels accounted for 82% of the global energy mix, with coal, oil, and natural gas comprising the majority of this.
The use of renewable energy sources is growing, with solar and wind power use increasing rapidly over the past decade. In the United States, renewable energy production and consumption reached record highs in 2023, with solar and wind energy driving these increases. Hydropower, biofuels, and geothermal energy are also significant contributors to renewable energy production and consumption. Despite this progress, fossil fuels still dominate the US energy mix, with petroleum, natural gas, and coal accounting for about 84% of total primary energy production in 2023.
To accelerate the transition to renewable energy, governments and organizations are implementing various initiatives. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that 90% of the world's electricity can and should come from renewable sources by 2050. The IEA forecasts $2 trillion in clean energy investments in 2024, and the Group of Seven (including the US, Canada, and Germany) has agreed to exit coal by the 2030s. At the state level, policies such as net metering, feed-in tariffs, and incentive programs encourage the adoption of renewable energy technologies.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2020, the energy needed to provide internet access accounted for approximately 1.7% of the total global energy consumption. This energy still comes mostly from burning fossil fuels.
The internet releases around 300 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. This is as much as all the coal, oil, and gas burned in Turkey or Poland, or more than half of the fossil fuels burned in the UK.
Data centres worldwide consume around 1% of global electricity use, even though internet traffic has tripled since 2015. Streaming services are associated with energy use and carbon emissions from devices, network infrastructure, and data centres.
The internet's energy demands result in varying amounts of carbon emissions depending on how the energy is sourced. It is estimated that internet use accounts for 1.7 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases per year, and this number is expected to increase by 2025.
Companies are exploring technologies to reduce the energy consumption of data centres, and some are transitioning to renewable energy sources. Individuals can also make a difference by limiting their internet usage and choosing more energy-efficient options, such as streaming audio instead of video.
