Symposium: Optimising Operations and Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Data Centres- Towards Sustainable Approaches to Data Centre Operations and Management

The main aim of the symposium is to advance the understanding and reduction of the carbon footprint of data centres by bringing together researchers, industry practitioners, policymakers, and technology providers in a focused, interdisciplinary forum. Through presentations, discussions, and networking, the event seeks to identify practical strategies for energy efficiency, renewable integration, circular hardware use, and transparent carbon accounting. By sharing evidence and best practices, the symposium aims to accelerate the transition towards sustainable data centre operations and management, ensuring that digital growth supports rather than undermines global climate goals.

The symposium welcomes a diverse and interdisciplinary audience. Participants include academic researchers and postgraduate students working on data centre sustainability, energy systems, AI optimisation, and circular economy approaches. Industry practitioners from data centre operators, cloud providers, hardware manufacturers, and cooling technology companies will share operational insights and case studies. Policymakers and regulators involved in digital infrastructure, energy policy, and climate commitments are also invited, alongside investors and consultants focused on green financing and sustainable technology. Representatives from NGOs, standards bodies, and professional associations contribute broader societal and governance perspectives. 

This mix ensures that discussions integrate technical, economic, regulatory, and environmental dimensions. The event is designed to foster dialogue across sectors, enabling participants to learn from one another, build partnerships, and translate research into practice. Attendance is open to all interested parties, whether presenting or not, and the organisers particularly encourage early-career researchers and professionals to join, ensuring that the next generation of leaders is actively involved in shaping sustainable data centre futures.
 

We invite papers on a variety of themes, such as: 
1.    Energy-efficient data centre design and architecture – low-power hardware, modular design, and sustainable construction
2.    Advanced cooling technologies – liquid cooling, immersion cooling, free cooling, and heat reuse
3.    AI/ML for data centre optimisation – predictive maintenance, workload scheduling, and carbon-aware computing
4.    Renewable energy integration and storage – solar, wind, batteries, and on-site generation for data centres
5.    Grid interaction and demand response – flexibility, load balancing, and smart grid participation
6.    Carbon accounting, monitoring, and reporting – metrics, standards, and transparency in emissions tracking
7.    Hardware lifecycle and circular economy – reuse, refurbishment, recycling, and e-waste reduction
8.    Water use and water-positive data centres – cooling water reduction, recycling, and sustainable water management
9.    Edge computing and distributed infrastructure – efficiency gains and carbon implications of edge deployments
10.    Supply chain resilience and sustainable procurement – sourcing, materials, and geopolitical considerations
11.    Data centre operations and management practices – staffing, automation, and operational excellence
12.    Policy, regulation, and investment – incentives, carbon pricing, and industrial policy for sustainable digital infrastructure
13.    Economic and business models – cost-benefit analysis, green financing, and return on sustainability investments
14.    Applications and demand-side perspectives – AI, cloud, 5G/6G, streaming, and their impact on data centre demand
15.    Case studies and best practices – real-world examples of carbon footprint reduction and sustainable operations

Other themes may also be considered. Please contact the organisers to discuss your ideas.

The symposium will be held at the University of Westminster in central London. Situated in the heart of the UK capital, the university offers excellent transport links, with easy access to Heathrow, Gatwick, and London City airports, as well as major rail and underground connections. Central London provides a vibrant setting for networking, with numerous hotels, restaurants, and cultural attractions nearby. 

The venue itself offers modern conference facilities, comfortable meeting spaces, and a professional atmosphere ideal for interdisciplinary exchange. Its central location makes the event easily accessible for both national and international participants, reinforcing London's role as a global hub for digital infrastructure, finance, and sustainability policy.
 

a) Present your important work to a cross-disciplinary audience of researchers, industry, and policymakers
b) Engage with growing data centres across various geographical regions, and digital infrastructure ecosystem and incentive programmes
c) Explore business opportunities with data centre operators, technology providers, and industrial users
d) Network at a premier international event on sustainable data centre operations and management
 

For delegates who may wish to make a presentation and write a paper, abstracts in English (250–300 words) should clearly outline:

• The research question or project objective
• Methodological approach
• Key findings or expected outcomes

Please send your abstract to: info (at) iccip (dot) net
 

Please note that participation in the symposium is possible with or without a paper or presentation. While we encourage contributions through full papers, extended abstracts, posters, or panel and workshop proposals, attendees are also warmly welcomed as listeners and discussion participants. This inclusive approach ensures a broad and engaged audience, supports meaningful interdisciplinary exchange, and allows practitioners, policymakers, and students to benefit from the programme regardless of whether they present their own work. 

Registration is open to all interested parties, subject to availability. We therefore invite everyone to join the dialogue on sustainable data centre operations and management, whether actively presenting or simply participating in the conversation.
 

In order to offset some of the costs of organising the event, a registration fee of Euro 475 will be charged per delegate. The fee also includes the coffee breaks and lunches during the days of the Symposium.

Papers admitted to the event and presented at it may be submitted to the book “Optimising Operations and Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Data Centres- Towards Sustainable Approaches to Data Centre Operations and Management".  This will be published by Springer Nature as part of the Climate Change Management Series, the leading peer-reviewed book series on matters  related to climate  change:  https://link.springer.com/series/8740.  

Each author will be given a complimentary PDF of their chapters and the book. The submission is not mandatory; it is only suggested. 
 

The Symposium is organised by the Research and Transfer Centre "Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management"  at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany and by the University of Westminster, together with the International Climate Change Information and Research Programme.
 

• Abstract submission: 30th November 2026
• Final registration: 10th December 2026
• Symposium dates: 20th–21st April 2027
• Full paper submission: 30th May 2027

Participants may also attend with or without a presentation. A written paper is not mandatory.
Please note that deadlines are subject to change. Delegates are advised to check the symposium website for updates.
 

For further information, contact the organising team at:
Prof. Walter Leal 
Research and Transfer Centre "Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management"  
Hamburg University of Applied Sciences 
Ulmenliet 20
21033 Hamburg
Germany 
info (at) iccip (dot) net

Submit your work and join the dialogue on sustainable data centre operations and management in London.