GREEN DATA CENTRES

Did you know that Manchester boasts the second largest number of data centres outside of London?

With the demand for data growing, the challenge to meet that demand is more important then ever. Data centres are the backbone for all digital activity, but are often underutilised, serving the interests of businesses worldwide rather than the needs of the communities in which they sit. We believe in equitable access to digital resources and that ordinary people in Manchester should benefit from the opportunities that our existing digital infrastructure offers.

We plan to host a data centre roundtable bringing together technology experts, businesses, academics, and public bodies to better understand the energy challenges data centers are facing; to share good practice on prioritising green energy; and explore the ways in which data centres could support innovation and regeneration in local communities.  
 
Manchester City Council’s active participation in the roundtable presents incredible opportunities for our city. The former Barclays data center in Wytheshawe has huge potential to attract investment, drive local economic growth, and contribute to our vision of a more inclusive, resilient, future-proofed city. 

“Data centres are the backbone for all digital activity, but are often underutilised, serving the interests of businesses worldwide rather than the needs of the communities in which they sit.”

While data centres are primarily used for storing and managing digital information, they also have the potential to provide sustainably powered computing capacity for local businesses and residents. The possibilities offered by data centers are hugely exciting; in the UK, they have recently been used to provide heating to swimming pools in a time when many are closing due to rising energy costs. Heat capture and reuse from data centers also has the secondary benefit of dramatically reducing carbon emissions, supporting environmental conservation.