Data centre operators are increasingly looking to replace copper wiring with photonics—technology that uses light rather than electrical signals to transmit data—to reduce energy consumption. Industry leaders argue that this shift could significantly cut cooling costs, since light does not generate the heat that accompanies electrical transmission through copper. Researchers and companies, backed by chip manufacturer Nvidia, say the technology is now ready to transition from the laboratory into widespread commercial use.

Typical data centres use around 400 tonnes of copper per 100-megawatt facility, with up to 20 tonnes dedicated to internal network wiring. Photonics offers multiple advantages: it reduces energy needed for cooling, allows multiple data streams to travel down the same channel for increased capacity, and operates at nearly the speed of light. However, significant challenges remain. The manufacturing process is distributed globally with final assembly concentrated in Taiwan, and the industry is still working to bring costs down. Additionally, optical components are highly heat-sensitive, raising reliability concerns unless data centre operators maintain strict thermal limits.