More Internet for less energy
Every time one tonne of CO2 is emitted to run the internet, today society saves 1.5 tonnes elsewhere, because procedures are made more effective. This factor 1.5 is predicted to rise to 10 in a few years. Therefore, the internet is a crucial tool and a decisive underlying prerequisite to make the green transition possible. At hospitals and ministries, wind turbines and district heating power plants, media, the transportation and farming industry, the Defence, and private homes – in all these contexts we need digital solutions consuming less power and providing a better defence against cyberattacks than today.
A unique collaboration
A remarkable Danish collaboration named GreenCOM, consisting of 18 companies, 2 universities, 2 research- and technology organizations, and 2 trade associations, will now come up with an egg of Columbus, which at the same time ensures more digitalisation and a green transition. The collaboration will result in 30 path breaking technology transfers to the industry, and this will ensure a digital infrastructure enabling internet connections to transport a larger amount of data considerably faster, cheaper, safer, and greener than today. When the technological innovation platform of GreenCOM has been launched, it has the potential to reduce the electricity consumption in Denmark by up to 10%. Remarkably, this also implies a further digitalisation of Danish society.
“Green” should be measurable
GreenCOM is launching a so-called Triple Helix collaboration between universities, major companies, trade associations, and start-up companies, in an effort to establish a certification of all the components and elements of the internet. This will make it possible for us to consider which solutions are factually greenest.
"As a novelty, GreenCOM will take the initial steps towards a fact-based, accredited energy certification of communication technologies- and services in the entire value chain. We must be able to weigh and measure how green the products and services in the ICT industry are, in a truly transparent and accountable manner. As well, this will provide a competitive edge for Danish companies who are already amongst the greenest in the world", states Project Head, Niels-Kristian Hersoug.
More jobs
The perspectives are broad-ranging and promising. Not only will GreenCOM deliver a greener, faster, and safer internet, in addition the project will generate more jobs in Denmark. The partners expect to create 150 full-time jobs five years after the end of GreenCOM in 2025. In many important domains, digital solutions will now emerge to lay the foundation for an even more sustainable and competitive Danish society. With the support from Innovation Fund Denmark, we will potentially become one of the world’s most digitalised, resilient, and green societies.
"The internet is a key to fight climate change, and also a technological challenge. This is because increased digitalisation may help us reduce waste and save considerable amounts of energy in society at large. At the same time, the energy consumption of the internet is set to rise exponentially unless new and more energy-efficient communication technologies are developed. The 24 partners of GreenCOM now commence that work. Together, GreenCOM and Innovation Fund Denmark will thus contribute to Denmark and all of us taking a green and safe leap into a digitalised future", says PI, professor at DTU, Leif Katsuo Oxenløwe.
Facts:
- Investment from the Innovation Fund: 40 mio DKK
- Total budget: 54 mio DKK
- Duration: 3 years
- Official title: Innovative solutions for next generation of Green COMmunications infrastructures
