A new study says US data center power needs could grow a lot between 2025 and 2030. The researchers looked at announced data centers and their planned power capacity.
The study suggests carbon capture and storage (CCS) could reduce the climate effect of data centers. CCS means capturing carbon dioxide from power plants and putting it underground in saline aquifers, a kind of salty rock layer.
Researchers note natural gas plants with carbon capture could be a near-term way to give reliable, lower-carbon power to data centers.
Difficult words
- capacity — Amount of power or space something can hold
- capture — To take and keep something, like gascapturing
- carbon dioxide — A gas produced when things burn or breathe
- saline aquifer — Underground salty rock layer that holds watersaline aquifers
- announce — To make information known to the publicannounced
- reliable — Works well without unexpected problems or stops
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you think carbon capture can reduce the climate effect of data centers? Why?
- Would you trust power from natural gas plants with carbon capture for important services? Why or why not?
- Do you expect data center power needs to grow in your country between 2025 and 2030? Why or why not?
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