“Green” Cloud Computing could be the key partner for CO2 reduction

According to IDC, a specialized consulting firm in technology, the continued adoption of cloud computing could prevent the emission of more than 1 billion metric tons (BMT) of carbon dioxide (CO²) from 2021 through 2024. Even if the percentage of green cloud datacenters today stays where it is, just the migration to cloud itself could save 629 BMT.

A key factor comes from the greater efficiency of aggregated compute resources. The reductions are driven by the aggregation of computation from discrete enterprise datacenters to larger-scale centers that can more efficiently manage power capacity, optimize cooling, leverage the most power-efficient servers, and increase utilization rates.

While shifting to cleaner sources of energy is very important to lowering emissions, reducing wasted energy use will also play a critical role. Cloud datacenters are doing this through optimizing the physical environment and reducing the amount of energy spent to cool the datacenter environment. The goal of an efficient datacenter is to have more energy spent on running the IT equipment than cooling the environment where the equipment resides.

Another capability of cloud computing is the ability to shift workloads to any location around the world. Developed to deliver IT service wherever it is needed enables workloads to be shifted to allow greater use of renewable resources, such as wind and solar power.

“Green IT has been around now for years, but the direct impact of hyperscale computing can have on CO² emissions is getting increased notice from customers, regulators, and investors and it’s starting to factor into buying decisions,” said Cushing Anderson, program vice president at IDC. “For advanced cloud providers, matching workloads with renewable energy availability will further accelerate their sustainability goals.”

Source: IDC  Fecha: 08-Marzo-2021

Effects on Costa Rica exports

Costa Rica is home of +450 companies offering ICT products and services, such as digital transformation, process automation, software development and technology integration. This diversity has allowed the development of a segment of companies that specialize in technologies linked to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, for example, cybersecurity, blockchain, artificial intelligence, IoT and RPA.

With 54% of all companies that specialize in 4.0 technologies, Cloud Computing is the most developed technological category by this group of Costa Rican companies. This deepening has been a reality thanks to the mature IT ecosystem in Costa Rica, driven by Fortune 500 clients operating in the country, aligned with the Academia and the local IT providers.

Costa Rica is a country recognized globally for its biodiversity and sustainability. In 2020, for the sixth consecutive year, more than 98% of electricity generation came from renewable sources, positioning the country as a leader in this field globally. In addition, many of the companies offer sustainable Cloud services, for example, the rental of cloud infrastructure as a service with placement in carbon neutral or carbon reduced data centers and that also offset their footprint through the purchase of renewable energy certificates; many of this being operated in smart buildings with LEED Certification.

Costa Rica seeks to position itself as a technology hub in the region, linked to the main technology markets in the world. This variety of knowledge, specializations in cutting-edge technologies, availability of massive and more traditional support services, as well as the stability of the country it offers, are differentiators that seek to channel clients towards a comprehensive services platform, rigorously based on added value.

With more than $1.3 billion in ICT total exports (2019), Costa Rica has a diversified offer that can take advantage of this “green” market, in line with our main business partners, like United States (our #1 export destination for 4.0 technologies), Canada and other highly demanding value-added markets.