How can AI help address climate change in Malaysia? Expert weighs in
AI data centres must incorporate renewable energy sources like solar panels to minimise carbon emissions.
SHAH ALAM - The sustainability of climate change in the context of data centres in Malaysia is a pressing concern.
To curb its environmental impact, the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology & Innovation (MRANTI) Artificial Intelligence (AI) expert Dr Afnizanfaizal Abdullah said AI data centres must incorporate renewable energy sources like solar panels to minimise carbon emissions.
He highlighted the significance of sustainability in AI data centres and how they contributed to global warming.
"Data centres, especially AI data centres, have a substantial impact on our environment.
"I have personally worked with many data centres in Malaysia, including YTL Corporation Berhad's upcoming AI centre in Sedanak, Johor.
"These centres must prioritise sustainability and incorporate renewable energy sources," he told Sinar Daily.
Afnizanfaizal also elaborated on the unique challenges AI data centres faced compared to typical data centres.
He said AI data centres required advanced infrastructure, particularly Graphical Processing Units (GPUs), which consumed significantly more power at around 200 times more than conventional data centres.
If these centres relied on traditional infrastructure, he said their carbon emissions will be exceedingly high.
To address this, Afnizanfaizal highlighted the necessity of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) compliance and sustainability measures for AI data centres.
He said these centres must integrate renewable energy elements, such as solar panels, to reduce their carbon footprint.
This, he said was not just a recommendation, but a mandatory component to ensure these centres were environmentally sustainable.
He added that the transition to sustainable AI data centres was a crucial step in mitigating climate change in the country.
By adopting renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions, he said these centres could significantly contribute to the country's environmental goals.
"The integration of AI in data centres provides an opportunity to revolutionise our approach to sustainability.
"By leveraging renewable energy, we can minimise the environmental impact and pave the way for a greener future," he said.
