Data Center Demand Response for Sustainable Computing: Myth or Opportunity?

In our computing-driven era, the escalating power consumption of modern data centers, currently constituting approximately 3% of global energy use, is a burgeoning concern. With the anticipated surge in usage accompanying the widespread adoption of AI technologies, addressing this issue becomes imperative. This paper discusses a potential solution: integrating data centers into grid programs such as “demand response” (DR). This strategy not only optimizes power usage without requiring new fossil-fuel infrastructure but also facilitates more ambitious renewable deployment by adding demand flexibility to the grid. However, the unique scale, operational knobs and constraints, and future projections of data centers present distinct opportunities and urgent challenges for implementing DR. This paper delves into the myths and opportunities inherent in this perspective on improving data center sustainability. While obstacles including creating the requisite software infrastructure, establishing institutional trust, and addressing privacy concerns remain, the landscape is evolving to meet the challenges. Noteworthy achievements have emerged in the development of intelligent solutions that can be swiftly implemented in data centers to accelerate the adoption of DR. These multifaceted solutions encompass dynamic power capping, load scheduling, load forecasting, market bidding, and collaborative optimization. We offer insights into this promising step towards making sustainable computing a reality.