The advent of 5G and the forthcoming 6G technology is set to significantly reduce latency, which translates to faster data transmission, enabling high-quality video streaming and facilitating groundbreaking technological innovations.

Jon Summers, Scientific Director of Data Centres at the Swedish Research Institutes (RISE) and a fluid dynamics associate at Luleå University of Technology, emphasized the necessity of minimizing latency.

He noted the critical distinction between viewing content from a remote server and the urgent need for instantaneous responses from autonomous vehicles.

These innovations underscore a shift from traditional rural data centres to urban 'edge' data centres, which are smaller in scale but strategically located closer to data generation points.

This proximity allows for swifter data processing as it minimizes the distance data must travel.

While large rural data centres handle massive data volumes, urban edge data centres can provide nearly instantaneous response times for crucial applications, potentially transforming urban infrastructures into networks dense with cabling.

However, the energy consumption of these data processing infrastructures raises significant sustainability concerns.

Summers pointed out that training and operating artificial intelligence models, such as ChatGPT, requires immense energy—first during the training phase involving vast datasets, and then during the operational phase as users engage with the system.

The impact of this energy demand is already evident in the limited number of free queries many systems permit, demonstrating the finite nature of energy resources.

Summers illustrated this energy dilemma by comparing it to the banning of halogen bulbs, which wasted 95% of energy as heat, highlighting that data centres waste an even greater 99.97% as heat.

As the technology landscape evolves, advancements in energy reclamation from data centres are of increasing importance.

Summers proposed utilizing the surplus heat generated from data centres for district heating systems, a practical solution in urban environments.

He noted, however, that while data centres excel at computation, they produce considerable heat that often fails to reach sufficiently high temperatures for effective heating applications.

Addressing this temperature shortfall could involve circulating systems that utilize heat pumps, which increase heat levels for reuse while cooling the data centre itself.

However, such setups can be complex and energy-intensive, raising questions about their overall energy savings.

Among the cooling techniques employed in data centre operations, two principal methods are utilized: liquid cooling and evaporative cooling.

Liquid cooling, particularly used in configurations with intense computational demands, circulates mixtures of water and additives in closed systems to carry away heat.

Conversely, evaporative cooling, which operates similarly to the body cooling itself through sweat, reduces energy consumption but poses challenges in water-scarce regions.

Summers cautioned against allocating water from already strained local supplies to data centres, prompting competition with municipal needs.

The appeal of northern countries for data centre installations lies in their ability to leverage natural cold air for cooling, thereby reducing reliance on mechanical cooling systems and enhancing sustainability.

In these regions, cooling towers play a crucial role by operating on the principle of evaporating condensate to cool the systems efficiently.

Summers noted that appropriately managing geographical constraints can enhance resource efficiency and sustainability.

As the United States and China invest heavily in data centre infrastructure, Europe is increasingly reliant on services provided by American tech giants.

Summers highlighted that the European Union is falling behind its counterparts regarding investments in infrastructure, raising concerns over national security given the current geopolitical climate.

He argued that the EU should consider developing its own cloud services to maintain control over data and compliance with privacy regulations like the GDPR.

The urgency of addressing energy consumption in the digital space has escalated, with Summers noting that digital services are now considered fundamental utilities in places like the United Kingdom, akin to water and electricity.

He warned that global energy consumption per individual is on the rise, necessitating a fundamental reevaluation of computational methodologies.

As societies grapple with digital hunger, Summers suggested that critical decisions may soon arise, balancing the operational needs of hospitals and schools against the energy demands of data centres.

Lastly, Summers addressed Hungary's recent appointment of a government commissioner for artificial intelligence, emphasizing the importance of maintaining continuous dialogue between governmental bodies and the research community to align technological developments with societal needs.

The financial investment in data processing capabilities signals a broader strategy to enhance national competitiveness in various sectors, including healthcare, climate modeling, and industrial digitalization, highlighting the intersection of technology, strategy, and environmental sustainability.