[ADVERTORIAL] Data centers are critical to keeping pace with the fifth industrial revolution. But the consensus is clear: this time we can no longer drive scientific progress with fossil fuels.

By 2026, total global data center power consumption could reach more than 1,000 terawatt hours – roughly equivalent to Japan’s electricity consumption. As our appetite for AI grows, data centers will also require more space – land that is becoming increasingly scarce on our planet.

Since the early days of space exploration, popular culture has looked to the stars to imagine a future beyond Earth. Now there is a more pragmatic option to reduce the environmental impact on our planet – moving data centers into space.

At Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), we are proud to participate in an initiative led by Thales Alenia Space called Advanced Space Cloud for European Net Zero Emissions and Data Sovereignty (ASCEND). This project is part of the European Union’s Horizon Europe research program. ASCEND is investigating the feasibility of developing, deploying and operating carbon-free data centers in orbit to support the EU Green Deal’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Space vision for AI

The concept behind ASCEND is revolutionary. By moving data centers into orbit, we could harness renewable solar energy on an unprecedented scale. Solar energy collected in space can continuously power these orbital facilities without relying on terrestrial resources. By bypassing the need for large physical spaces and extensive cooling infrastructure, orbital data centers would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with traditional data center operations.

Data sovereignty is another important pillar of the ASCEND initiative. A European-controlled, foreign data infrastructure could support the EU’s quest for technological sovereignty by reducing dependence on global cloud providers outside Europe. This approach ensures that European data remains under European control and promotes data protection and compliance with regional regulations.

As demand for data continues to grow, HPE’s role in developing space-ready, energy-efficient technology could set a new industry standard. This shows how visionary, sustainable solutions can reshape digital infrastructure.

HPE’s contributions to ASCEND

HPE brings a wealth of experience and expertise to ASCEND, including advanced knowledge in supercomputing, aerospace technology and efficient data center design. Building on its proven success with the space computer that performed reliably aboard the ISS in a zero-gravity, high-radiation environment, HPE’s role includes the design and development of robust computer systems and data center architectures specifically tailored to the challenges of space.

With our expertise in delivering the world’s fastest and most efficient supercomputers, our team is responsible for developing and assembling space-ready IT building blocks on which Thales Alenia Space will develop corresponding power and cooling modules. HPE aims to provide 800 kW of orbital computing power per launch, which could eventually expand to ASCEND’s goal of 1 gigawatt by 2050.

Additionally, HPE’s responsibilities extend beyond computer hardware to include the entire IT architecture required for space operations. This includes designing the modular structure to accommodate data centers as well as determining power, space and cooling requirements to ensure high availability and seamless functionality.

The ASCEND initiative and its visionary goals reflect our commitment at HPE to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time: sustainable data infrastructure in the age of AI. While space-based data centers may still be a long way off, through our contributions to the project we hope to chart a new course for the technology industry and prove that ambitious, environmentally conscious technology can drive progress and help the EU achieve its goals in the field of Achieving CO2 neutrality.

This is a post from Pascal Lecoq, Director WW Sustainable DC Modernization at HPE. The publishers are not responsible for the content. Click here for more information about the company’s solutions.