Principal Air Quality and Climate Change Specialist ECORP Consulting Inc., CA
Abstract Description: Data centers are not alone in facing electric power supply and air pollution challenges, as similar issues affect other energy-intensive industries reliant on continuous, large-scale power consumption. These challenges extend to emerging sectors such as cryptocurrency mining, hydrogen production, biomass processing, and electric vehicle (EV) charging hubs, which compete for limited grid resources and clean energy solutions.
Common challenges include high energy demand, reliance on backup power systems, distributed emissions impacts, cooling and heating requirements, regulatory pressures, competition for renewable energy, and environmental justice concerns. Data centers and comparable facilities operate 24/7, placing significant strain on electrical grids and often requiring diesel or natural gas generators during outages or maintenance. These generators emit criteria pollutants (e.g., NOₓ, CO, PM, SO₂) and greenhouse gases (e.g., CO₂, CH₄), exacerbating climate change and degrading air quality.
Cooling and heating systems further increase energy consumption and may release refrigerants with high global warming potential (GWP). Facilities across various sectors must also navigate stringent environmental regulations, driving the adoption of costly emission controls and cleaner technologies. Moreover, the competition for renewable energy resources intensifies as industries seek to reduce carbon footprints, delaying transitions to sustainable solutions.
Communities near these facilities face air and noise pollution impacts, raising environmental justice concerns, particularly in low-income or marginalized areas. The shared challenges highlight the urgent need for collaborative strategies to enhance grid resilience, promote renewable energy integration, and ensure equitable environmental outcomes across all high-energy industries.
