Growth in cloud computing has some important consequences for both greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and sustainability. Thanks to massive investments in new data center technologies, computing clouds in general and public clouds in particular are able to achieve industry-leading rates of efficiency. Simply put, clouds are better utilized and less expensive to operate than traditional data centers. Moreover, Pike Research’s analysis indicates that only the very largest of organizations – both commercial and governmental – will have the capital and expertise to achieve a similar level of efficiency at a comparable cost. As a result, we anticipate that much of the work done today in internal data centers will be outsourced to the cloud by 2020, resulting in significant reductions in energy consumption, associated energy expenses, and GHG emissions from data center operations versus a business as usual (BAU) scenario.
This Pike Research report provides an in-depth analysis of the energy efficiency benefits of cloud computing, including an assessment of the software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) markets. The study examines the key demand drivers and technical developments related to cloud computing, in addition to detailed profiles of key industry players. Market forecasts include a quantification of energy savings and GHG reduction opportunities under a cloud computing adoption scenario, with a forecast period extending through 2020.
Key questions addressed:
What cost advantage do public cloud computing providers hold over traditional data centers?
How are cloud providers defining the operational objectives of the entire computer business?
What are the key strategies among cloud computing providers, especially with regard to energy efficiency?
What is the opportunity to improve sustainability by moving to the cloud?
What kind of ROI does cloud computing provide from an energy efficiency perspective?
How much impact will the adoption of cloud computing have on carbon emissions from data center operations?
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
2. Market Issues
2.1 Definition of Cloud Computing
2.2 Segments of the Cloud Computing Market
2.2.1 Segmentation by Function
2.2.1.1 Software as a Service
2.2.1.2 Platform as a Service
2.2.1.3 Infrastructure as a Service
2.2.2 Segmentation by Business Model
2.2.2.1 Public Cloud
2.2.2.2 Private Cloud
2.2.2.3 Hybrid Cloud
2.3 Market Trends Affecting Cloud Computing
2.3.1 Broadband Internet Growth
2.3.2 Smartphone Adoption
2.3.3 Effects of the Current Recession
2.4 The Energy Consequences of Moore’s Law
2.4.1 Heat as a Byproduct of Moore’s Law
2.4.2 Evolution of the Market
2.4.3 Underutilization
2.5 Public Cloud Provider Economies of Scale
3. Technology Issues
3.1 Energy Efficient Technologies for Cloud Computing
3.2 Virtualization
3.2.1 VMware and Citrix
3.2.2 Case Study – State of Utah
3.2.3 Utilization Issues
3.3 Reducing the Amount of Energy Servers Require
3.4 Reducing the Amount of Energy Networks and Data Storage Devices Require
3.5 Reducing the Amount of Data Networks Transfer, Servers Process, and Data Storage Devices Retain
3.5.1 Networks
3.5.2 Software
3.5.3 Data Storage
3.6 Improving the Energy Efficiency of the Envelope of Systems Protecting and Conditioning the Data Center
3.7 Improved Cooling
3.8 Improving Power Use
3.9 Moving the Data Center to a Better Location
4. Market Forecasts
4.1 Cloud Computing Market Forecasts
4.2 Cloud Computing’s Energy Savings Potential
4.2.1 Data Center Energy Expenditures
4.2.2 Data Center Energy Consumption
4.2.3 Data Center Greenhouse Gas Emissions
4.3 Obstacles to Adoption
4.4 Other Factors Affecting Cloud Computing
4.4.1 Possible Effects of Peak Oil Production
4.5 Moving Toward a Sustainable Future
5. Key Industry Players
5.1 Overview
5.1.1 Amazon.com
5.1.2 Citrix Systems
5.1.3 CloudSigma
5.1.4 GoGrid
5.1.5 Google
5.1.6 Hosting.com
5.1.7 IBM
5.1.8 Joyent
5.1.9 Microsoft
5.1.10 Rackspace
5.1.11 Savvis
5.1.12 TechTurn
5.1.13 Terremark
5.1.14 VMware
6. Company Directory
7. Acronym and Abbreviation List
8. Table of Contents
9. Table of Charts and Figures
10. Scope of Study, Sources and Methodology, Key Forecast Assumptions, Notes
