The purpose of the ASCEND study was to compare the environmental impacts of space-based and Earth-based data centres.
Thales Alenia Space has announced the results of the ASCEND (Advanced Space Cloud for European Net zero emission and Data sovereignty) feasibility study. Launched in 2023 and funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe programme, this initiative aims to study the feasibility of space-based data centres to work toward the EU Green Deals objective of net-zero carbon by 2050 and transform the European space and digital ecosystem.
For this study, Thales Alenia Space coordinated a European consortium of partners with complementary expertise in environmental aspects (Carbone 4, VITO), cloud computing (Orange Business, CloudFerro, Hewlett Packard Enterprise), launchers (ArianeGroup), and orbital systems (German space agency DLR, Airbus Defence & Space, and Thales Alenia Space).
The purpose of the ASCEND study was to compare the environmental impacts of space-based and Earth-based data centres. It was also intended to validate the technological feasibility of developing, deploying and operating such centres in orbit. In order to significantly reduce the CO2 emissions generated by the processing and storage of digital, the results of the study estimate that such space infrastructures would require the development of a launcher ten times less emissive over its entire lifecycle. Moreover, space data centres would not require water to cool them, a key advantage in times of increasing drought.
Curbing the energy and environmental impacts of data centres could kick-start major investments within the framework of the EU Green Deal, potentially justifying the development of a high-capacity, eco-designed and reusable launcher. Thanks to ArianeGroups contribution and to analytics from ESAs PROTEIN feasibility study, ASCEND validated the feasibility of a launcher capable of conducting multiple launches while mitigating its carbon footprint. Modular space infrastructures would be assembled in orbit using robotic technologies from the European Commissions EROSS IOD (European Robotic Orbital Support Services In Orbit Demonstrator) led by Thales Alenia Space, scheduled to fly its first mission in 2026. This would enable Europe to restore its leadership in transportation, space logistics and assembly of large in-orbit infrastructures.
The ASCEND project could contribute to Europes digital sovereignty, reducing its digital carbon footprint while ensuring data security for citizens and businesses alike. The market for data centres by 2030 is estimated at 23 gigawatts of capacity; ASCEND aims to deploy one gigawatt before 2050. The results of the study also confirm the projects economic viability, offering a prospect of a return on investment of several billion euros between now and 2050.
Speaking about the result, Christophe Valorge, Chief Technical Officer, Thales Alenia Space, said: “The results of the ASCEND study confirm that deploying data centres in space could transform the European digital landscape, offering a more eco-friendly and sovereign solution for hosting and processing data. Were proud to be contributing to an initiative supporting Europes net-zero objectives and strengthening its technological sovereignty.”
Thales Alenia Space and its partners now intend to pursue the ASCEND feasibility study to consolidate and optimise its results. At the same time, a paradigm shift within the space sector is required to accomplish the projects goals, leveraging technologies that are within reach for Europe.
