Schneider Electric has underscored the need for sustainable data centres to address environmental impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

In a statement, titled, ‘Strengthening sustainability commitments: six practical solutions for navigating Nigeria’s AI revolution’, the firm noted that the rapid adoption of AI by Nigerian industries is driving an unprecedented rise in data centre energy consumption.

The firm observed that while AI workloads consume significantly more power, generate more heat, and require advanced cooling systems, increasing energy demand and carbon emissions, these trends could strain Nigeria’s already overburdened power grid and hinder the country’s sustainability goals; net-zero emissions by 2060 if left unchecked.

“Investment in mission-critical infrastructure is fueling this growth. The global data centre market size is calculated at $125.35 billion in 2024 and is projected to rise to $364.62 billion by 2034, with a CAGR of 11.39 per cent over that period, largely driven by gen AI.

“While this growth unlocks new possibilities for industries and communities across the world, it also poses significant sustainability challenges. The growth trajectory underscores the need to reimagine not only how data centres source, manage, and consume energy, but also how their underlying infrastructure is sourced, managed and consumed.”

To address these challenges, the firm called for collaboration among data centre operators, businesses, and policymakers with focus on three key areas: enhancing sustainability strategies to mitigate AI’s environmental impact, tackling Scope 3 emissions, and ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks.

In his remarks, the Country President, Schneider Electric, Anglophone West Africa, Ajibola Akindele, stated that there is need to integrate sustainable strategies while leveraging AI-driven optimisations in order for businesses to drive long-term efficiency while contributing to a greener future.

“As AI accelerates demand for data processing and storage in Nigeria, immediate action is needed to reduce energy consumption and emissions.

“Sustainability requires an ongoing commitment. Nigerian data centre operators must regularly reassess their strategies, benchmark against global best practices, and adopt cutting-edge solutions to remain on track.”