This year, Amazon Web Services has decided bet on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) with the aim of reducing the pollution produced by the standby generators of its data centers. These are currently in Europe, Ireland and Sweden, and run on diesel. For this reason, since January, the company has begun testing this oil, which contributes to a much more sustainable supply.
What is hydrotreated vegetable oil?
HVO is a type of fuel that is characterized by not being toxic. In addition, it is biodegradable and can be made with waste, plants or even other oils that are used in daily life (such as cooking). Thus, Amazon Web Services will provide its data center backup generators with enough energy they need to function this 2023 with less impact on the environment.
The positive aspect is that no changes need to be made to be able to use this resource, since it is compatible with the data processing systems. Therefore, Amazon Web Services will fill its standby generators with the fuel offered by the plants without making any modifications.
The advantage of betting on this oil is that it can contribute to reduce gas emissions into the atmosphere by up to 90%, which far exceeds the figures produced by the use of diesel. For this reason, Amazon Web Services has opted for this alternative in which many hopes have been placed.
In search of a sustainable supply
Amazon Web Services had been thinking about achieving a more sustainable supply for some time, however, it has not been until now when it seems that everything has begun to take shape. Although the data centers in Ireland and Sweden were the first in working with hydrotreated vegetable oil, the current challenge is to ensure that this is implemented in all those who are in Europe.
These generators act as a backup in the event that there is an interruption in the power source, so this oil can help them continue to operate in these circumstances. To achieve this, the company is contributing to develop a global supply chain while investing in HVO.
Although, for this, it is monitoring very closely that the oil comes from renewable sources and raw materials such as plants, in addition to the fact that this is obtained while respecting the environment at all times. Well, in many cases this cannot be the case, something that would be detrimental to Amazon’s commitment.
This investment in hydrotreated vegetable oil that Amazon is making makes it clear that its commitment to decarbonizing data centers rests on very solid foundations. These have to do with the great challenge of being able to fully use renewable energy in all the activities you carry out. And it is that the company expects reach this milestone in 2025 and zero emissions by 2040.
Despite the fact that all eyes are currently focused on hydrotreated vegetable oil, it is true that Amazon Web Services is investing in other types of fuels. In this way, it is testing the ground and checking how less polluting alternatives work to supply energy efficiently and continue, thus, operating without damaging the environment.
