CRC vs CCA - Would it be out of the frying pan and into the fire?

The UK Carbon Reduction Commitment has driven many people to distraction trying to figure out what the impact (cost and brand impact) to their businesses might be as far as their data centre estate is concerned. Particularly troublesome is that for anyone providing data centre's as a 'service' there is no ability within the current CRC structure to pass the Carbon 'bill' onto the consumer of the energy.

Enter the CCA (Climate Change Agreement), CCA's have been around for a while and have been used to tackle energy reduction and driving emissions improvements within the sectors who lead the CO2 emissions league. One of the positive things about a CCA is that they can get you out of CRC under the right conditions, however they of course bring their own reporting and reduction obligations. Some would argue that the cost of reporting under a CCA verses the CRC could be benefitial to the data centre industry.

The equation is complex as a CCA requires the recognition of the industry sector in its own right, should data centres be recognised as an industry in their own right? Or would that simply make us an easy target for future legislation. Anonymity and lack of recognition has its benefits too! Clearly though further investigation and debate is required so DCSG proposes an evening of presentation (CRC verses CCA) and debate (give us your views after you've listened to the facts!).

Why attend? - If we as an industry decided to push to get data centres recognised as an industry in its own right then having an industry representative body will be key to making the scheme work. If you work in this industry and your business relies on data centres who's energy constitute a material proportion of your total CO2 emissions then you should be attending and giving us your views.

Event Format:

DCSG has lined up two primary speakers to position either side of the debate. One supporter of CRC and one supporter of CCA's. The first half of the evening we will let them make their case for why we should follow one and not the other and then after the networking and buffet dinner break, we'll hold a panel session with additional experts from both camps and expect lots of audience interaction.