Model 7: Data Infrastructure (IC50)

The TICCS superclass IC50 (Data Infrastructure) describes diverse infrastructure assets related to data collection and transmission. Our model focuses mainly on the subclass IC502010 (data centres). Our RBM relies on publicly reported observations of data centres and their electricity consumption (in MWh).

We model Scope 2 emissions in tons of CO2 based on a function of electricity consumption in MWh. As data centres do not emit GHG directly, Scope 1 emissions are considered negligible. Scope 3 emissions are too complex to model because the modelling process would require information on the usage of data centres by end users – information that is hardly available.