Student Research Spotlight on Sustainable Digital Infrastructure

Artificial intelligence is accelerating global demand for computing. As a result, data centers, as the physical backbone of the digital world, are undergoing dramatically increased deployment and transformation. This surge in digital infrastructure presents increased opportunity to use computing to benefit organizations and people. However, it also raises questions about sustainability, sovereignty, and long-term environmental impact.

The Deep Tech Initiative has been exploring these issues for the past 18 months, including the release of our Hyperscaler Data Center Report and in collaboration with the Duke Billions to Trillions convening. We are now pleased to announce the publication of two new student research papers examining the evolving landscape of sustainable digital infrastructure. Julia Bernarde, an undergraduate researcher studying Public Policy with a focus on technology and Latin America, presents Creating Sustainable Digital Infrastructure: How to Secure a Green Future for LATAM Data Centers. Completed during her internship with the Center for Latin American Convergence, her paper maps the opportunities and challenges facing Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay as they work to attract green data center investment while safeguarding energy stability, environmental integrity, and digital sovereignty.

Economic Benefits of Green Data Centers by Avery Smedley, authored in support of the second annual Billions to Trillions: Catalyzing Private Investment in Climate Solutions. Her research synthesizes industry case studies and emerging algorithms to demonstrate that renewable-powered data centers can be not only environmentally responsible but also economically advantageous. From improved power usage efficiency to innovative cooling and load-management strategies, the project shows that greener infrastructure can drive cost savings and long-term profitability.

Together, these papers further our mission to contribute academic scholarship to global conversations about how to build digital systems that are efficient, resilient, and aligned with climate goals.  Be sure to connect with Deep Tech at Duke on LinkedIn to stay up to date on our Deep Tech Tuesday Series. Each week, the series highlights work from our student research assistants, faculty, staff, and the broader deep tech ecosystem.