FEATURE : ENERGY MANAGEMENT

Managing energy consumption in IT and AI systems presents several challenges , particularly when integrating advanced tools with existing infrastructure , requiring upfront investment and technical expertise , which can be challenging . Executives from Kyndryl , NetApp , Shaffra , and Pure Storage , share their insights .

2023 study by PwC showed more than 60 % of Middle East businesses were in favour of increasing time spent on addressing ESG . The report mentioned risk management , compliance , and the circular economy as top priorities for the year ahead . At the time of the survey , one third of regional companies employed a Chief Sustainability Officer . A more recent PwC report from June this year noted the transition from ambition to action . Now , 75 % of respondents are expecting stricter ESG regulations .

Effectively managing energy consumption in IT and AI systems is becoming increasingly important , especially as global electricity demand from AI , data centres , and cryptocurrency is projected by the IEA to reach 800 TWh by 2026 . This surge highlights the need for optimisation to keep operational costs in check .

“ ESG is no longer a box-ticking exercise ; it has become a business-level criterion for selecting suppliers . A few years ago , customers were not asking for information on how sustainable technology was or what vendors and suppliers can do to help them meet their sustainability goals ,” says Omar Akar , Regional VP CEE and META , Pure Storage .

“ The pace of change can seem slow and cumbersome as there are so many paths from which to choose and many different methodologies to follow ,” adds Akar .

Enterprises can start with measurement of Scope 1 , 2 and 3 , to understand an organisation ’ s individual starting point . Once there is an understanding of the situation , look at external frameworks to help reduce emissions and map progress .

“ Effective energy management requires IT modernisation , as legacy systems can consume more than a third of enterprise power , while cloud migration can reduce energy consumption by up to 87 %,” says Nidal Azba , Chief Technology Officer , Kyndryl MEA . “ Sustainability is top of mind for most organisations today . They recognise the importance of reducing their environmental impact and to reduce cost ,” says Walid Issa , Senior Manager , Presales and Solutions Engineering Middle East and Africa , NetApp .

“ Current tools for managing energy consumption in IT systems leverage AI-driven analytics , intelligent power management software , and cloud optimisation platforms ,” says Marc Wehbi , Cofounder and CTO , Shaffra .

These solutions monitor and optimise power usage by dynamically adjusting resource allocation based on real-time demand .

Inhibitors and pain points

Rapid technology advancements pose a challenge in deciding when to invest in new technology versus

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