How to improve operational efficiency and reduce energy consumption in data centers? With energy demand constantly growing, the industry is looking for innovative solutions to optimize data management. And that's where glass comes in.
Photonic Chips for Data Centers
Traditionally, devices used in data centers are made of silicon; but a glass-based technology could help enable a new generation of chips. photonic chips They do not process data through electricity, but through the light; method that clarifies the decision to adopt glass, a material already used for the optical fibers, as it has the ideal properties for light transmission, without signal dispersion.
Glass leads the way
Glass chips optimize data transfer and reduce the amount of energy needed to cool data centers. Unlike traditional solutions, these chips operate at room temperature, reducing the need for cooling, one of the most expensive items in terms of energy consumption.
Data centers are responsible for approximately1% – 1,5% of current world energy consumption, with forecasts indicating an increase of up to 1000 terawatt hours per year by 2026 (a figure close to Japan's electricity needs).
However, the large-scale implementation of glass photonic chips could contribute to a reduction in the 40-50% of energy consumption and costs of data centers.
A call to Europe
Despite the disruptive potential of this technology, widespread adoption requires investment and a more innovation-oriented mindset. In Europe, Regulatory and economic challenges threaten to hamper the rapid growth of the sector. However, with a truly proactive approach and concrete support at the industry and political level, glass could become the new standard for advanced microelectronics in data centers.
Source: it.euronews.com
