HP have unveiled the blueprints for its HP Net-Zero Energy Data Center, an architecture designed to automatically match energy supply with a facility's IT workload energy demands. The architecture can cut total power usage by 30%  and operating costs by more than 80% according to HP. The approach envisions data centres using on-site renewable energy to offset the use of energy drawn from the power grid, which isn't too far-fetched, given that data centre giants such as Google, Facebook, Intel, and others have invested in on-site renewable energy. Developing regions such as Africa, too, are turning to renewable energy, to bring affordable computing and Internet access to their citizens.

"Information technology has the power to be an equalizer across societies globally, but the cost of IT services, and by extension the cost of energy, is prohibitive and inhibits widespread adoption," said Cullen Bash, distinguished technologist at HP and interim director of the Sustainable Ecosystems Research Group at HP Labs. "The HP Net-Zero Energy Data Center not only aims to minimize the environmental impact of computing, but also has a goal of reducing energy costs associated with data center operations to extend the reach of IT accessibility globally."

Source: Infoworld