Title: Review on virtual machine placement in green data centres

Authors: Muhammed Hemeda; Mahmoud El-Alem; Ahmed Zekri

Addresses: Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt ' Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt ' Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt

Abstract: Cloud computing delivers scalable, reliable, and high-performance services without the burden of infrastructure management. However, the surge in computational demand has significantly increased the consumption of energy and greenhouse gas emissions in data centres. Integrating renewable energy sources (RES) and optimising virtual machine placement (VMP) have emerged as critical strategies for achieving sustainable cloud operations. This paper provides a comprehensive review of VMP techniques, highlighting their role in reducing energy use and environmental impact. A novel taxonomy is proposed, classifying green computing strategies across hardware, software, and infrastructure layers. Furthermore, we evaluate the performance of cutting-edge VMP algorithms, especially in RES-powered environments, based on metrics such as energy savings and carbon footprint. The review also addresses deployment challenges and outlines practical solutions to enhance the feasibility of implementation. Finally, we identify key future research directions that can drive the development of intelligent, resilient, and environmentally sustainable cloud infrastructures.

Keywords: virtual machine placement; VMP; green data centres; GDC; renewable energy sources; RES; cloud computing; CC; sustainability; energy consumption; EC.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCC.2026.152330

International Journal of Cloud Computing, 2026 Vol.15 No.1, pp.55 - 89

Received: 31 Jul 2025
Accepted: 24 Aug 2025
Published online: 16 Mar 2026 *

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