Energy

Track

Energy and IT are both global subjects that form a crucial aspect enabling our daily routines and lifestyle. Moreover, both subjects become more and more interconnected. Although IT only accounts for 2% of the worldwide energy consumption, it has an enormous influence on the energy consumption of other industries. IT enables better energy efficiency by stimulating innovation on domains as energy reduction and energy transition. In addition the fast growing IT industry itself will need to ‘green’ her processes, on hardware as well as software level. Only that will allow the industry to keep pace with future developments.

Climate change, CO2 emissions, the environment, finite fossil fuels – all of these issues are in the news every day. The use of IT and its role in everyday life and work is also rapidly increasing. Increasing use of IT has advantages and disadvantages in terms of energy consumption and harmful emissions. The drawback is that total energy consumption by IT facilities in the Netherlands in 2006 was as great as the total energy consumption of 2 million households and, for example, CO2 emissions are comparable to those of the aviation sector. On the other hand, the use of IT also means gains can be achieved through improved efficiency in other sectors and by gaining benefits by making more intelligent use of energy. Energy and IT are both essential to our modern society and economy and are increasingly interdependent.

For these reasons, the Energy and IT theme is booming business and is high on many agendas. The European Commission is working on the issue in various areas, and businesses and governments in various countries are making plans to address this topic.

Read more about the track in the Energy position paper.