Google moves point to net zero's growing importance amid AI boom
The tech giant is hiring a person to identify new carbon reduction opportunities
Google's parent company, Alphabet, is doubling down on its commitment to address the environmental impact of AI on datacentre energy consumption.
In a bid to mitigate the rising energy costs associated with AI, the tech giant is actively seeking a Program Manager to spearhead its AI/ML Carbon Reduction and Net Zero efforts.
The role, sitting in Google's Climate Operations team, is "a dynamic opportunity to lead transformative projects at the forefront of sustainability and technological innovation."
Google says it is committed to achieving 24/7 carbon-free energy and net zero emissions for its global operations and value chain by 2030. This new position is pivotal to realising that vision.
The role's responsibilities are multifaceted and far-reaching: from defining and quantifying GHG emission baselines for AI/ML products, to developing comprehensive carbon reduction plans and goals. They will also be responsible for tracking progress and proposing mitigation actions when necessary.
Crucially, the program manager will be tasked with articulating the overarching carbon reduction and net zero roadmap for AI/ML products. This entails fostering partnerships with internal teams and experts, aligning on prioritisation, and driving collaborative efforts towards a shared goal of sustainability.
In addition to strategic planning, the Program Manager will collaborate closely with relevant teams to identify new carbon reduction opportunities and develop "innovative" solutions. That includes devising OpEx/CapEx budgets and cost approaches that scale with the exponential growth of AI/ML technologies, whilst ensuring operational efficiency across teams.
In terms of compensation, Google is offering a competitive salary range of $160,000 to $246,000 for the full-time position, with additional incentives such as bonuses, equity and benefits.
Applicants eager to take on this challenge can find more details here.
The recruitment drive underscores Google's commitment to proactively address AI's environmental challenges.
Currently, the company maintains its commitment to sourcing 100% renewable energy for its facilities through power purchase agreements (PPAs). PPAs are one of the better ways of sourcing renewable energy, as they are a direct agreement between renewable generator and the customer, but if renewables can't supply sufficient power then something fossil based will kick in. That's why companies like Google who buy PPAs at scale still can't claim to use 100% renewable energy.
Despite challenges, the company says it is committed to its pledge of adopting round-the-clock renewable energy sourcing by 2030.
Spin-off spins up
In related news, Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners, a spin-off from Google's parent company Alphabet, this week announced Verrus, a venture aimed at revolutionising datacentre sustainability and efficiency.
Verrus touts the use of "workload-aware and other innovations" to disrupt the rigid designs of legacy datacentres, which often fail to align infrastructure with actual availability requirements.
Verrus also emphasises its adoption of sustainable distributed energy technologies, such as battery storage, as an alternative to traditional diesel generators for backup electricity.
The announcement underscores the growing awareness among hyperscale tech companies about the environmental impact of rising workloads on datacentre energy consumption.
Earlier this month, Amazon bolstered its datacentre infrastructure by acquiring a nuclear-powered datacentre campus in Pennsylvania. And last month, the company inked a deal with Oregon-based wind farm provider Avangrid, tapping into renewable energy from a site boasting 40 wind turbines capable of delivering up to 90 megawatts of power.
US proposes tax on cryptocurrrency mining
Also this week, the US government this week put forward a proposal to implement a tax on cryptocurrency miners in efforts to address the action's environmental impact.
Some cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, rely on a process called mining to produce new units, which requires intensive computation and significant electricity consumption. Recent data from the University of Cambridge indicates that Bitcoin alone accounts for 0.69% of global electricity usage.
The US government's concern centres around the environmental repercussions of cryptocurrency mining, prompting a proposal to tax miners to mitigate their sizable carbon footprint. We'll have to wait and see if the proposal is adopted.
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