Our energy efficiency solutions for electrical technologies

Why focus on energy efficiency?

Digital transformation and the digitization of the economy rely on energy-intensive technologies, primarily electricity: computer networks and terminals, data storage infrastructure, automated control solutions, artificial intelligence applications and systems, and cybersecurity measures, among others. However, we now know that the digital sector contributes several percentage points to greenhouse gas emissions. 
Data centers are particularly affected. As physical storage facilities for digital data, they house servers that consume large amounts of electricity around the clock, resulting in the Joule effect: heat is generated, which must be dissipated to prevent damage to the equipment. The heat is neutralized using powerful air conditioning systems… which also consume electricity. To reduce the impact, there are several courses of action:

• design energy-efficient computer equipment
• design energy-efficient buildings
• seek carbon-free energy

Units of measurement based on voluntary standards

The energy efficiency of a data center is measured using a specific metric called PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness), the calculation method for which is described in the series of  ISO/IEC 30134 standards . The digital sector is being called upon to contribute to the French government's energy conservation plan.
In addition, on March 14, 2024, the European Commission adopted a  regulations   establishing a sustainability rating system for data centers. This text specifies the information that data centers with an installed computing capacity of more than 500 kW must provide to the European database. It cites the standard  EN 50600-4-2  as a source for the definition and calculation method of total energy consumption (“EDC,” in kWh).

Source of figures: Ademe