An article in today’s print edition of the the New York Times reports on a study about cloud computing published yesterday the the journal Science:

The computer engine rooms that power the digital economy have become surprisingly energy efficient.

A new study of data centers globally found that while their computing output jumped sixfold from 2010 to 2018, their energy consumption rose only 6 percent. The scientists’ findings suggest concerns that the rise of mammoth data centers would generate a surge in electricity demand and pollution have been greatly overstated.

The major force behind the improving efficiency is the shift to cloud computing. …

While some have speculated that the expansion of cloud computing has resulted in a great increase in energy use, the study shows that this has not been the case:

“The public thinks these massive data centers are energy bad guys,” said Eric Masanet, the lead author of the study. “But those data centers are the most efficient in the world.” …

We’re hopeful that this research will reset people’s intuitions about data centers and energy use,” said Jonathan Koomey [a study coauthor].

Local companies Amazon and Microsoft have led the recent shift of computing to the cloud.

Since 2010, the study authors write in Science, “the data center landscape has changed dramatically.”

The tectonic shift has been to the cloud. In 2010, the researchers estimated that 79 percent of data center computing was done in smaller traditional computer centers, largely owned and run by non-tech companies. By 2018, 89 percent of data center computing took place in larger, utility-style cloud data centers.

The big cloud data centers use tailored chips, high-density storage, so-called virtual-machine software, ultrafast networking and customized airflow systems — all to increase computing firepower with the least electricity.

“The big tech companies eke out every bit of efficiency for every dollar they spend,” said Mr. Masanet.

A number of these data centers are located in the state, bringing significant positive economic impacts to the hosting communities.