It sounds like an argument taken from a science fiction novel, but it is one of the most cutting-edge realities of the modern cloud. Did you know that your software can decide to run based on whether it's sunny or windy?
At Nordkat Solutions, we are implementing Carbon-Aware Computing strategies, a discipline that changes the paradigm of "when" and "where" code runs.
What is carbon-aware computing?
Traditionally, software runs immediately or according to workload. But the carbon intensity of the electricity grid varies depending on the time of day and the weather.
Our methodology consists of scheduling the software so that the heaviest tasks (such as massive data processing, generating reports or backups) are intelligently shifted to times when the energy on the grid is cleaner (from renewable sources such as wind or solar).
The approach for tech teams: Schedulers and carbon intensity
How do we put it into practice? Our DevOps team integrates climate monitoring tools directly into the application's lifecycle:
- Carbon Intensity APIs: We use services like Carbon Intensity or Electricity Maps to know in real time the carbon intensity of the grid.
- Intelligent Schedulers: We set up schedulers and crons that not only watch the clock, but the availability of renewables, shifting workloads toward Cloud regions or time windows with a lower carbon impact.
- Spatial Shift: If a data center in Ireland has more wind power at a given time than one in Germany, we can move certain processes dynamically.
The result: Frictionless sustainability
The best thing about this technology is that the availability of the service to the end user is never affected. It's a direct reduction of the company's environmental footprint that happens "behind the scenes".
We don't just care that your software is fast; we want it to be smart about the planet.