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The Future of Sustainable Data Centres: Grid Stability, Digital Twins and AI

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Manage episode 488059096 series 2805813
Content provided by Tom Raftery. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Tom Raftery or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Send me a message

In this episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I sit down with Ciaran Flanagan, who leads Siemens’ Global Data Centre business, to unpack the evolving role of data centres in our energy and climate systems.

We dig into the data centre’s journey from a “sausage machine” of power-hungry servers to a potential hero in grid stability and renewable energy adoption. Ciaran shares how data centres in Ireland, despite consuming up to 20% of national electricity, are driving economic growth and pioneering greener practices.

We explore why digital twins are more than a buzzword, enabling smarter design and cutting resource waste. Ciaran also explains how AI’s explosive demand pressures the grid while offering real-time energy optimisations to make data centres more sustainable.

Key highlights:

  • The role of data centres as catalysts for renewable energy growth
  • How digital twin technology can cut construction emissions and energy use
  • AI’s double-edged impact on data centre sustainability
  • The regulatory shift pushing data centre operators to report and reduce emissions

We also touch on the often-overlooked economic benefits of data centres, from direct jobs to the broader tech ecosystem.

The report I referred to in the podcast is available here.

Listen in to learn how the data centre industry is pivoting from climate problem to climate solution.

Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson
Discover how technology is reshaping our lives and livelihoods.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

Podcast supporters
I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters:

  • Jerry Sweeney
  • Andreas Werner
  • Stephen Carroll
  • Roger Arnold

And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.
Contact
If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn.

If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show.
Credits
Music credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

  continue reading

Chapters

1. The Future of Sustainable Data Centres: Grid Stability, Digital Twins and AI (00:00:00)

2. [Ad] Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson (00:36:02)

3. (Cont.) The Future of Sustainable Data Centres: Grid Stability, Digital Twins and AI (00:36:40)

4. (Cont.) The Future of Sustainable Data Centres: Grid Stability, Digital Twins and AI (00:36:40)

224 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 488059096 series 2805813
Content provided by Tom Raftery. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Tom Raftery or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Send me a message

In this episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I sit down with Ciaran Flanagan, who leads Siemens’ Global Data Centre business, to unpack the evolving role of data centres in our energy and climate systems.

We dig into the data centre’s journey from a “sausage machine” of power-hungry servers to a potential hero in grid stability and renewable energy adoption. Ciaran shares how data centres in Ireland, despite consuming up to 20% of national electricity, are driving economic growth and pioneering greener practices.

We explore why digital twins are more than a buzzword, enabling smarter design and cutting resource waste. Ciaran also explains how AI’s explosive demand pressures the grid while offering real-time energy optimisations to make data centres more sustainable.

Key highlights:

  • The role of data centres as catalysts for renewable energy growth
  • How digital twin technology can cut construction emissions and energy use
  • AI’s double-edged impact on data centre sustainability
  • The regulatory shift pushing data centre operators to report and reduce emissions

We also touch on the often-overlooked economic benefits of data centres, from direct jobs to the broader tech ecosystem.

The report I referred to in the podcast is available here.

Listen in to learn how the data centre industry is pivoting from climate problem to climate solution.

Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson
Discover how technology is reshaping our lives and livelihoods.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

Podcast supporters
I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters:

  • Jerry Sweeney
  • Andreas Werner
  • Stephen Carroll
  • Roger Arnold

And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.
Contact
If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn.

If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show.
Credits
Music credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

  continue reading

Chapters

1. The Future of Sustainable Data Centres: Grid Stability, Digital Twins and AI (00:00:00)

2. [Ad] Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson (00:36:02)

3. (Cont.) The Future of Sustainable Data Centres: Grid Stability, Digital Twins and AI (00:36:40)

4. (Cont.) The Future of Sustainable Data Centres: Grid Stability, Digital Twins and AI (00:36:40)

224 episodes

All episodes

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