Time-shifted computing could slash data center energy costs by up to 30%

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Recently, two computer scientists had an idea: if computers use energy to perform calculations, could stored data be a form of stored energy? Why not use computing as a way to store energy?

What if information could be a battery, man?

As it turns out, the idea isn't as far-fetched as it may sound. The information battery" concept, fleshed out in a recent paper, would perform certain computations in advance when power is cheap-like when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing-and cache the results for later. The process could help data centers replace up to 30 percent of their energy use with surplus renewable power.

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