Published: Oct 31, 2025

Green Cloud Computing and its role in sustainable AI

Artificial intelligence runs on vast cloud infrastructure, but that infrastructure comes at a cost. According to research by CI&T on the climate impact of the technology sector, data centres already consume about 4 percent of global electricity, a share projected to rise sharply as AI models expand in size and computational demand^[1]. Cloud providers and enterprises alike are under pressure to make computing more energy-efficient without compromising performance.

Green Cloud Computing offers a path forward. By embedding sustainability into every layer — from data centre design to workload optimisation — organisations can achieve lower carbon emissions, better resource efficiency, and higher operational resilience. As the foundation of the Greening Systems strategy, it enables responsible AI by ensuring that the systems powering innovation are themselves sustainable.

For NCS, this shift is already underway. NCS helps enterprises modernise with sustainable cloud architectures that balance performance, cost, and environmental impact.
 

• Cloud and AI growth are driving a sharp rise in global electricity demand and emissions.
• Green Cloud Computing integrates sustainability across infrastructure, operations, and energy use.
• Energy-efficient hardware, renewable-powered data centres, and containerisation form the pillars of Greening Systems.
• Sustainable cloud design lowers costs, enhances resilience, and enables responsible AI at scale.
• NCS combines cloud modernisation expertise with sustainability innovation to help clients achieve both growth and environmental goals.
   

Cloud computing has transformed how organisations operate, offering scalable access to data, software, and AI workloads on demand. Yet this growth carries a heavy environmental cost. As highlighted by CI&T’s analysis on the technology sector’s climate impact, traditional data centres are power-intensive, contributing to roughly 4 percent of global CO₂ emissions today, with projections suggesting this could rise to 14 percent by 2040 if left unchecked^[1].

As AI adoption accelerates, these facilities must process ever-larger models and datasets — creating a cycle of rising energy consumption and cooling demand.
 

Green Cloud Computing integrates sustainability across infrastructure, operations, and design — ensuring that the systems powering AI innovation evolve responsibly.

At its core are six pillars that define how technology leaders can embed environmental efficiency into their cloud strategy:


Figure 1: The pillars of Green Cloud Computing.

1. Energy efficiency – Optimising server and data centre design to minimise idle power draw and heat waste.
2. Renewable energy – Transitioning data centres to solar, wind, or hydro sources, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
3. Data centre location – Building facilities near renewable supply or cooler climates to improve efficiency.
4. Containerisation – Using virtualisation and orchestration platforms like Kubernetes to maximise utilisation and scale on demand.
5. Efficient cooling systems – Deploying AI-assisted and liquid cooling methods to lower overall power consumption.
6. E-waste reduction – Extending hardware lifespan through reuse and responsible recycling.

These principles are already being applied across Asia. Singtel’s Nxera initiative, for instance, is developing hyper-connected, renewable-powered data centres in Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand — advancing its vision for net-zero operations and next-generation AI infrastructure^[2].



Figure 2: Singtel's vision on the development of sustainable next generation digital assets.




Figure 3: Singtel's different strategies to develop energy efficient green data centres across the region.
 

When sustainability is embedded into system design, the benefits extend far beyond environmental performance.

Reduced emissions
Renewable-powered operations and AI-driven workload management significantly lower carbon output.

Optimised resource use
Containerisation and orchestration prevent hardware under-utilisation, improving efficiency.

Lower operating costs
Efficient cooling and energy-aware scheduling drive measurable cost savings.

Compliance and resilience
Meeting emerging green standards strengthens regulatory alignment and business continuity.

Brand leadership
Companies demonstrating climate responsibility attract investment and build stakeholder trust.

Green Cloud Computing proves that sustainability and scalability can coexist. By designing infrastructure with purpose, enterprises not only reduce environmental impact but also future-proof their business against rising energy costs and climate expectations.
 

Balancing service reliability with energy efficiency remains an ongoing challenge, but technology is closing the gap. Advances in liquid cooling, AI-driven power optimisation, and cross-border renewable energy grids will redefine what’s possible in the decade ahead.

For organisations, the takeaway is clear: cloud modernisation and sustainability must advance together. Those that act now — by re-architecting infrastructure, optimising workloads, and embedding renewable energy — will lead the next wave of responsible AI innovation.
 

Green Cloud Computing is redefining how enterprises power AI innovation — transforming data centres from energy-intensive infrastructure into enablers of sustainability. By integrating renewable energy, optimising workloads, and adopting energy-efficient design, organisations can reduce emissions and costs while driving long-term resilience.
 

NCS helps clients modernise their digital ecosystems through cloud architectures built for efficiency, scalability, and sustainability. From green data centre integration to AI-driven workload management, NCS combines deep technology expertise with regional insight to help enterprises balance performance with environmental responsibility — turning sustainable computing into a business advantage.
 

See how Green Cloud Computing builds the foundation for a sustainable future in this quick, at-a-glance summary.

References

^[1] Simoes, G. (n.d.). Climate crisis and the technology sector. CI&T. Retrieved from https://ciandt.com/ca/en-ca/article/climate-crisis-and-technology-sector#:~:text=Current%20estimates%20show%20that%20the,emissions%20of%20the%20aviation%20sector

^[2] Chang, B. (2023, August 24). Singtel Investor Day 2023 – Digital InfraCo. Singtel. Retrieved from https://www.singtel.com/content/dam/singtel/investorRelations/factsheetsAndPresentation/2023/Singtel%20Investor%20Day%202023%20-%20Digital%20InfraCo.pdf