Germany and the UAE discuss solutions for energy efficient and AI-ready data centers

Policy makers, data center operators, technology providers and topic matter experts from both Germany and the UAE convened for a webinar hosted by the Emirati-German Energy Partnership to explore new solutions for energy-efficient and AI-ready data centers.

Data center capacity is expanding rapidly and, due to its high energy intensity, is becoming an increasingly significant contributor to overall energy consumption. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence are further driving demand for greater computing power. Germany is one of the leading data center hubs in Europe. The UAE has ambitious goals for data center development and is planning the construction of a 5 GW AI campus in Abu Dhabi. Effectively managing the energy consumption of data centers is therefore both a financial and environmental priority.

Speakers represented a diverse range of stakeholders, including the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI), data center operators from Germany and the UAE (Data Center Group and Khazna), technology providers (Siemens Energy and STULZ), and the think tank Öko-Institut. Each organization presented strategies and technologies to support the sustainable expansion of data centers.

The discussions emphasized that existing energy efficiency standards in the European Union (EU) could serve as benchmarks for the data center industry. Speakers also highlighted the need to ensure a secure and clean power supply when selecting new data center locations. Additionally, the use of water-efficient technologies, such as closed-loop systems, was identified as a central pillar for supporting the resource-efficient expansion of data centers.

The Emirati-German Energy Partnership will continue this fruitful exchange through future activities to advance energy efficiency in Germany and the UAE.