Amazon Web Services (AWS), the leading cloud computing provider, has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Orbital Materials, a Princeton-based startup specializing in AI-driven materials science. This collaboration aims to drastically reduce carbon emissions and water usage across AWS’s extensive data center network, signaling a new era in sustainable technology development.
Leveraging AI for Data Centre Sustainability
The partnership integrates Orbital Materials’ AI-designed advanced materials into AWS’s operations, focusing on enhancing carbon removal, optimizing cooling systems, and improving water utilization. Orbital’s proprietary AI platform has already demonstrated its ability to accelerate materials development, achieving a tenfold performance improvement since early 2024. This AI-driven approach reduces the development cycle from years to months, far outpacing traditional laboratory methods.
Jonathan Godwin, CEO of Orbital Materials, emphasized the transformative potential of the partnership:
“Our collaboration with AWS will fast-track the deployment of cutting-edge technologies for decarbonizing data centers and improving efficiency in cooling and water usage. AWS’s market leadership amplifies the reach and impact of our innovations.”
Expanding AI Innovation to Broader Applications
Beyond improving AWS’s data center operations, the collaboration includes the introduction of Orbital’s open-source AI model for materials simulation, known as Orb, on AWS platforms such as Amazon SageMaker JumpStart and AWS Marketplace. This marks the first AI-for-materials model available on AWS, enabling researchers and companies worldwide to leverage AI for sustainable innovation.
Howard Gefen, AWS’s general manager for Energy & Utilities, highlighted the broader implications:
“By integrating Orb with Amazon SageMaker JumpStart and AWS Marketplace, we aim to catalyze sustainable innovation across industries. Leveraging AWS’s AI tools, such as SageMaker HyperPod and Trainium, we can accelerate breakthroughs in sustainability technologies.”
A Timely Solution for an Industry Under Pressure
Data centers currently account for approximately 1% of global electricity consumption and 0.3% of global carbon emissions, with these figures expected to rise due to the rapid growth of cloud computing and AI services. This partnership addresses the increasing pressure on data centers to reduce their environmental footprint by developing technologies that set new sustainability benchmarks.
Orbital Materials, founded in late 2022, has quickly emerged as a leader in climate technology innovation. The company plans to deploy and test its AI-designed carbon removal solutions by the end of 2025, offering a glimpse into the future of sustainable data center operations.
Pioneering New Industry Standards
As one of the largest cloud providers globally, AWS’s adoption of Orbital’s AI-driven materials represents a pivotal moment for the tech industry. With operations in 34 geographic regions and a portfolio of over 240 services, AWS’s commitment to sustainability has the potential to set a new standard for data center operations. The availability of the Orb model through AWS platforms is expected to catalyze advancements not only in cloud computing but also in industries ranging from construction to manufacturing.
