Information technology (IT) equipment is already estimated to account for about 2% of the global energy consumption, and this figure is only expected to rise. However, the use of solar power for IT is yet to receive the attention it deserves from researchers, and there is a vast array of important problems to be addressed to enable the use of solar and other alternative energy sources in IT. In this note, we take the view that a broad systems perspective of solar power generation and utilization (rather than looking only at component technologies such as PV, solar-thermal, etc.) is essential, and mention major directions which in our opinion merit attention in this regard.

With the worldwide increase in both solar energy production as well as in the consumption of energy by information technology (IT) systems, especially large data centres and such, it appears inevitable that these two seemingly disparate trends will soon interact in a much more significant way than at present. It is therefore necessary for us to understand the likely manner of such an interaction, and prepare to meet the challenges that come with it. Some obvious points may be noted in this regard: