Energy and Resources Group Colloquium

Despite the increasing focus on the energy impact of AI, internet growth, and data centers, nearly all studies have overlooked the subsea cables that transport over 99% of all transoceanic internet traffic. This talk describes the work of Sustainable Subsea Networks, including the first carbon footprint calculator for subsea cables; a report on best practices in subsea cable sustainability; and the formation of sustainability metrics for manufacturing, operation, and recovery and recycling. The talk with discuss how, given cables’ marine and terrestrial environments, and need to navigate regulatory requirements worldwide, this has been a necessarily global effort rooted in academic-industry collaboration.

Speaker: Nicole Starosielski, Sustainable Subsea Networks