QTS Data Centers has announced a new research effort with UW-Madison, putting $1.5 million toward improving data center sustainability.
The global digital infrastructure business and the university on Friday announced the Advancing Data Center Sustainability research initiative, which involves the UW-Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and other faculty across campus.
Supported research projects will focus on grid stability, advanced battery storage, renewable fuels, environmental impacts of data centers and other key factors. Those categories can include water quality improvement efforts, AI-based monitoring of pollinators and other animals, new energy systems and other applications.
Madison Williams, chief investment officer for QTS, touts the impact of partnerships between industry and academia.
“The insights gained from this research initiative are essential to shaping our next generation of sustainable digital infrastructure, supporting the growing digital demands of daily life while driving lasting economic impact for Dane County and beyond,” Williams said in a statement.
Paul Robbins, dean of the Nelson Institute, says the investment from QTS will help its researchers grapple with the practical challenges presented by data centers.
“We are excited to partner with leading industries to help create more sustainable outcomes,” he said in a statement on the research effort.
The company last month announced plans for a data center campus in Dane County, including an initial $50 million community commitment for the county with a “planned multibillion dollar development” down the road.
The project would create thousands of construction jobs to build the facility and hundreds more full-time positions, according to an overview from QTS.
Along with its community support aimed at workforce development, housing and other “critical needs” for locals, the company says it will pay for all project energy infrastructure, pledging no cost impact to existing customers due to the data center.
Meanwhile, the company has rolled out an “agreement in principle” with Alliant Energy to leverage renewable energy credits to reduce the cost of the Madison utility’s planned renewable facilities.
QTS said in late October that it plans to submit a zoning application for the Dane County project to the DeForest Village Board this month.
See more in the release.
