Sustainable Computing Thrives At The Largest Solar Powered Data Center

As large consumers of power, data centers account for approximately 1% of global electricity usage and between 3-4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. By 2025, the sector is set to increase its electrical footprint by 50%, pushing its energy requirements even higher. The vast majority of this energy is generated from non-renewable sources, such as coal and natural gas.

A zero-carbon data center

One data center at the forefront of sustainable digital transformation is Moro Hub, a subsidiary of Digital DEWA, the digital arm of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (PJSC). Running on 100% renewable energy, Moro Hub is fully aligned with Dubai's net-zero 2050 strategy.

Moro is located in the middle of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world, just 70 kilometers from Dubai. Breaking two Guinness World Records, the park now includes the tallest concentrated solar power tower and largest thermal energy storage plant worldwide.

“Estimates suggest that data centers generate a substantial share of global greenhouse gas emissions. This underscores the urgency and importance of addressing sustainability in the data center industry,” said Marwan Bin Haidar, Vice Chairman and Group CEO of Digital DEWA.

As explained during discussions held at COP28 in Dubai, the alarming statistics regarding the kind of power needed to run data centers prompted the idea of placing Moro Hub's data center in the solar park. The data center is preparing itself for the increase in productivity requirements resulting from a huge spike in the use of AI. Recent research indicates that currently, 77% of businesses are using or exploring AI, with 35% already using it and 42% of companies exploring its implementation in the future.

“AI technologies require vast computational power and storage space. The power needed to run AI workloads is huge,” said Mohammed Bin Sulaiman, Chief Executive Officer of Moro Hub. “We asked ourselves, why not have a solar powered data center that provides green data center services to our customers in the public and private sectors.”

A new computational dimension

Many customers are at a stage of excitement combined with curiosity about AI and how it can help them improve their business aspects. While the market is still in a stage of assessment, some companies are a bit more advanced and have already identified the use cases that can bring real business value.

But running these kinds of reports requires special kinds of data center facilities with very high-density racks which have the capability to substantially increase computing power per square foot or rack.

Moro Hub is leading by example. It was architected to provide high-density racks to customers running AI workloads. Although still at a very early stage, developments are speeding ahead. A reflection of this commitment is Moro Hub’s partnership with Digital Dubai Authority, which offers cloud services in Dubai through the Moro Cloud platform. This collaboration solidifies Dubai's global standing as a frontrunner in digital transformation.

At an inflection point

Moro Hub unveiled a prospective partnership to introduce SAP’s public cloud services to the groundbreaking green data center. This development paves the way for both public and private sector entities in the UAE to diminish their ecological impact by harnessing SAP’s cloud solutions hosted by Moro Hub. This initiative aligns with the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to pioneer the adoption of sustainable computing technologies in the UAE.

Sergio Maccotta, Senior Vice President of SAP Middle East and Africa – South, expressed that the collaboration with SAP will empower organizations throughout the country to bolster their operations with SAP’s environmentally focused solutions.

The announcement dovetails with a landmark agreement announced at the close of COP28 that signals the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era. Negotiators from nearly 200 Parties reached a decision in Dubai on the world’s first ‘global stocktake’ to ratchet up climate action before the end of the decade to keep the global temperature limit of 1.5°C within reach.

The global stock take is a critical turning point, offering countries and other stakeholders an opportunity to take a long, hard look at the state of our planet. Like an inventory, it will help identify where organizations are collectively making progress to help chart a better course for the future. Set to take place every five years, the stock take can help policymakers and stakeholders strengthen their climate policies and commitments, paving the way for accelerated action.

There’s no better time than now for SAP, DEWA, and Moro Hub to collectively focus on sustainability and enable companies in the region to enhance their efficiency, improve current operations, and tap into potential opportunities through innovative business models.

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