• • • DATA CENTRE MANAGEMENT • • •


The energy trilemma: futureproofing for sustainable data centre management


Given the current geopolitical climate and the ongoing energy crisis, Alastair Morris, chief commercial officer at Powerstar, looks at energy management for the sector, considering the energy trilemma and offering a Battery Energy Storage Systems data centre case study to demonstrate the positive benefits that a considered energy management strategy can provide, to mitigate some of the risks and help futureproof assets in uncertain times


T


he UK ranks fourth in the World Energy Council’s latest Energy Trilemma Index, with improvements in sustainability most


noticeable over the last two decades. However, the report notes that for Energy Security, a lack of national energy storages is the key challenge. And, for Energy Equity, the third pillar of the trilemma, comparable high electricity prices are the main hurdle to improve the UK’s equity scores. The current energy crisis in not a one-off, and


there is no quick fix. Our energy prices and supplies are going to be volatile for the foreseeable future. There is a renewable energy transition happening, but it doesn’t just mean switching from coal and gas to solar and wind. It means changing the way we transmit and


distribute electricity, the way we store energy, and the way we power our vehicles and heating. It is going to be a painful process, taking many years to complete and requiring huge investments in infrastructure throughout the country – as highlighted by the World Energy Council. Data Centres can aim to ride out the storm and


wait for a green, stable and affordable electricity supply from the National Grid, or they can take


control of their energy supply – mitigating the risks of a changing grid supply to protect vital data, business operations and the bottom line. It was in this context – looking for secure and


reliable power in case of disruption in supply, as well as working towards sustainable energy while reducing energy costs – that South Staffordshire Council approached Powerstar. Like most public sector organisations, councils


hold and maintain significant amounts of personal information, and require a secure and stable power supply to protect and preserve servers to avoid disruption to business-critical services. Initially, South Staffordshire Council were looking to implement a new UPS system but, following a detailed site visit and more in-depth discussions, Powerstar recommended a more holistic approach, which is now paying dividends for the Council. South Staffordshire Council’s primary need was


to protect its site, critical data and equipment from the risk of power disruptions. Traditionally, a UPS system has proved an effective solution, so long as the system is properly maintained. However, we realised that the Council wanted to implement a power resilience strategy to support their net zero


ambitions, including harnessing the full power of their 100kW solar array. An additional opportunity came with the


potential to make the most of their budget by introducing a new revenue stream, as part of their on-site power generation, by accessing grid service contracts such as Demand Side Response (DSR). Powerstar’s recommendation was to install a


BESS instead of the traditional UPS system, to help the Council meet all its objectives to achieve a secure power supply, alongside sustainability improvements and energy cost savings. In terms of sustainability and net zero goals, there are clear benefits in moving to a BESS system. While a UPS would be idle most of the time, it is


still losing power and consuming energy as it switches from AC to DC and back again – a 10- 15% loss of capacity, as compared to the loss with a BESS of approximately 1%. Clearly, the energy storage approach meets the demands for a stable and resilient power supply (Energy Security), cost savings (Energy Equity) and net zero targets (Sustainability). For South Staffordshire Council, Powerstar


installed a 250kW BESS on-site, and this now provides full, site-wide UPS, while also enabling


14 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • APRIL 2022


electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44