2024.09.24

[seanmcilroy29]

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2024.09.24 Agenda/Minutes

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Time 0800 (PT) / 1600 (BST) - See the time in your timezone

• Chair – Adrian Cockcroft
• Chair - Pindy Bhullar (UBS)
• Convener – Sean Mcilroy (Linux Foundation)

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Recordings

WG agreed to record all Meetings. This meeting recording will be available until the next scheduled meeting.

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Roll Call

Please add 'Attended' to this issue during the meeting to denote attendance.

Any untracked attendees will be added by the GSF team below:

• Full Name, Affiliation, (optional) GitHub username

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Agenda

• Approve agenda
• Approve previous Meeting Minutes

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Review

• Review the documentation files on GitHub and provide updates.
• https://github.com/Green-Software-Foundation/real-time-cloud/blob/Dev/Cloud_Region_Metadata_specification.md

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Latest Issues

• [Consistency Review] Real-Time Cloud Specification and Cloud Region Dataset #60
• [Question] For discussion later - Real-Time Infrastructure Accounting for embodied carbon #62
• option to add additional columns to the Dataset

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Ref Material

• GSF Real-Time Cloud Renewable Energy Percentage spreadsheet
• RTC Cloud Region Impact Framework Documentation
• miro dataflow in detail
  • Continue to review and approve the proposed Scope.

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AOB

• Topics added during the meeting

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Next Meeting

• 08 Oct

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[adrianco]

Attended

[seanmcilroy29]

attended

[PindyBhullar]

Attended

[seanmcilroy29]

MoM

Meeting Summary
The meeting focused on standardizing cloud metadata and real-time data. Adrian emphasized the need for cloud providers to disclose their absolute energy usage and other metrics in line with the European Energy Directive. Pindy added that the directive requires detailed disclosures on energy use, size, and other metrics for data centres over 500 kW. The team discussed the importance of public feedback and potential ISO adoption, and they also emphasized the need to engage with Cloud Carbon Footprint (CCF) and the Impact Framework to ensure widespread adoption of the standard. The team plans to push the updated metadata standard to the main branch and seek feedback from major cloud providers such as Google and Amazon.

Minutes
Discussion on Data Disclosure and Cloud Provider Metrics
Adrian discusses the importance of sharing detailed data, including water usage and absolute energy numbers, to calculate metrics like WUE and carbon-free energy. Adrian suggests cloud providers should disclose actual megawatts used in their data centres rather than just ratios. Sean inquires about the updates made to the readme file and columns in the spreadsheet. Adrian clarifies that the current work focuses on annual data, not real-time metrics, and discusses the need to separate the two for standardization.

Clarification on Metadata and Real-Time Data
Adrian and Sean discuss the need to clarify that the current work is on annual metadata, not real-time metrics.
Adrian proposes focusing on the annual metadata standard and referencing ongoing work on real-time data in the future.
Sean suggests continuing as is and decoupling real-time data when it becomes available. Adrian agrees to rewrite the intro part to reflect the focus on annual metadata and future work on real-time data.

European Energy Directive and Data Center Metrics
Adrian explains the European Energy Directive requiring data center operators to disclose energy usage, size, and other metrics. Adrian has added columns to the spreadsheet for key metrics from the European directive, such as energy usage and renewable PPA information. Pindy asks about the specific reported metrics, and Adrian confirms that energy usage is the primary focus. Adrian mentions the directive's implementation timeline and the expected public disclosure of data.

Next Steps and Public Feedback
Sean outlines the plan to push the updated spreadsheet to the main branch and seek public feedback. Adrian emphasizes the importance of getting the data set out of Dev and into the main branch for broader usage. Sean suggests engaging with Cloud Carbon Footprint (CCF) to use the data set and gather feedback. Adrian and Sean discuss the need for publicity and engagement with other organizations like the Impact Framework.

Engagement with EU and Other Organizations
Adrian and Sean discuss contacting the European Union team responsible for the Energy Directive. Adrian mentions finding the contact information for the lead author of a related presentation and plans to engage with him.
Pindy highlights the importance of the upcoming report in May 2025 and the potential for the group's work to influence the minimum performance standard. Adrian and Sean agree to track the contact information and engage with the EU team to gather feedback and support.

• @sean - Email Alex from LF Energy to discuss the "real-time" aspect of the metadata.
• @sean - Publish the updated "Real-Time Cloud" spreadsheet as the main branch to allow for public feedback.
• Sync up with Asim and Joseph from the Impact Framework to discuss using the metadata.
• Contact Nicolaus Continarcus, the author of the European Directive presentations, to understand data availability and timeline.
• Coordinate with the Cloud Carbon Footprint team to discuss using the published data.

[seanmcilroy29]

Approved