Google's carbon-aware computing platform uses Electricity Maps' hourly carbon intensity forecasts to smartly shift computing tasks
THE CHALLENGE
Addressing the challenge of climate change demands a transformation in how the world produces and uses energy. Google set the goal of operating on 24/7 carbon-free energy – matching its electricity consumption with locally sourced clean energy every hour of every day.
To achieve this, Google’s data centers need to work closely with carbon-free energy sources like solar and wind.
THE SOLUTION
Google uses Electricity Maps data to calculate the carbon intensity of the electricity powering Google’s data centers. Understanding the CO2 emissions on an hourly basis from each data center allows for data-driven decisions that can reduce emissions and help Google on their path to 24/7 carbon free energy.
To operationalize this, Google’s carbon-intelligent platform compares two types of forecasts. One of the forecasts, provided by Electricity Maps, predicts how the average hourly carbon intensity of the local electrical grid will change over the course of a day. A complementary Google internal forecast predicts the hourly power resources that a data center needs to carry out its compute tasks during the same period. Then, Google uses the two forecasts to optimize hour-by-hour guidelines to align compute tasks with times of low-carbon electricity supply.
Flexible loads can also be shifted to different data centers around the world, allowing for data centers to work harder in times and places where clean energy is most readily available. Today, this project allows Google to reduce its carbon footprint by shifting compute loads without negatively impacting the performance or reliability of its services.
Savannah Goodman
Data and Software Climate Solutions Lead
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