As the world shifts into what some call the Fourth Industrial Revolution, artificial intelligence (AI) is taking centre stage. But just like steam and electricity powered previous revolutions, AI’s rise demands immense energy, mostly to fuel data centres that run the algorithms and store the data powering this technology.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global energy use by data centres could double by 2030. This places added pressure on already stressed power grids, while driving up costs and carbon emissions.

To address this challenge, Dell Technologies has launched Concept Astro, a next-generation system that uses AI, automation, and digital twins to make data centres smarter, greener, and more efficient.

What does Concept Astro entail?

Concept Astro is Dell’s bold vision for the future of sustainable data centres. It uses agentic AI and digital twin technology, virtual replicas of physical systems, to forecast, simulate, and optimise workload operations. By pulling in real-time grid data, the system identifies the best times and places to run compute-heavy jobs based on energy availability, cost, and business priorities.

“This capability is exciting but right now just a concept,” says Dr Alyson Freeman, innovation lead for Sustainability and ESG at Dell. “Our engineers are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible to deliver at scale.”

At its core, Concept Astro can:

• Predict energy and time needs for workloads
• Adapt scheduling to real-time grid conditions
• Prioritize tasks based on sustainability goals and operational demands
• Deliver tailored dashboards for roles from CFOs to researchers

The system builds on Dell’s existing AIOps Assistant, allowing users to ask questions about their infrastructure and receive personalized recommendations.

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A Sustainable Edge in the AI Era

AI workloads are notoriously energy-intensive. As AI becomes more commonplace, from business analytics to autonomous systems, the pressure on data centres grows. Operators are increasingly asked to balance performance with energy efficiency, reliability, and cost control.

Concept Astro gives them a powerful tool to do just that. It brings grid awareness into workload planning, helping enterprises lower their carbon footprint without compromising performance.

“At Dell, we’re helping customers unlock enterprise AI’s potential while keeping energy use and costs in check,” says Freeman. “Energy-efficient technologies like Concept Astro not only cut emissions but also make systems more resilient and affordable.”

Real-World Results: The Scripps Project

Dell recently put Concept Astro to the test in a pilot project with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. Scripps processes massive volumes of underwater imagery, up to 350GB per dive, across hundreds of dives each year.

By using Concept Astro to schedule processing during optimal energy windows, Scripps achieved:

• 20% cost savings
• 32% reduction in emissions
• 2x throughput in image processing, thanks to the upgraded Dell AI Factory powered by next-gen Nvidia servers

“We’ve worked on this for nearly two years, and it’s exciting to see the results,” says Megan Carrasco-Beyer, Dell’s senior consultant for Global Portfolio Sustainability. “This is Dell’s vision for the future of efficient, sustainable data centre operations.”

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Looking Ahead

As AI continues to evolve, so too must the infrastructure that supports it. Dell’s Concept Astro shows what’s possible when advanced technologies like digital twins, AI scheduling, and energy-aware automation come together.

It’s not just about cutting emissions or saving on electricity; it’s about building a smarter, more responsible digital future.

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Source: Sustainability Magazine