• • • DATA CENTRE MANAGEMENT • • •
Big data, big energy consumption?
Each photo we post on social media or email we send is saved into servers that are stored in physical data centres around the world. This process consumes a significant amount of energy, raising sustainability issues in the data centre industry. To help overcome this challenge, Marcin Bala, chief technology officer of telecommunications networks specialist Salumanus, explains how to create a more sustainable data centre infrastructure
T
o energy policy firm Energy Innovation, very large data centres require more than 100 megawatts (MW) of power capacity, enough
to power around 80,000 US households. Overall, it is estimated that data centres
consume between one to two per cent of global electricity demand, but figures are predicted to grow due to an increase in data centre facilities. Given these numbers, it is essential that data
centre operators put energy efficiency and sustainability at the core of their business strategy. But how can they do that in a cost-efficient way and without radically restructuring their facilities?
Data compression Data produced globally is unlikely to decrease in the future and is in fact growing, aided by external factors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first quarter of 2020 alone, data usage has
20 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • APRIL 2022
increased by 47%. Data centre operators need to look for innovative ways to respond to this increase and prepare for future surges. One way to do so in a sustainable way is data
compression. This process involves the reduction of a file’s size by re-encoding the file data to use fewer bits of storage compared to the original file. Compressed data requires less time for transfer and consumes less network bandwidth. By diminishing the file size, less storage capacity and thus energy consumption are needed. Not only is this a sustainable practice, but it is also an opportunity for operators to reduce costs associated with storage resources. Data compression can also improve analytics
performance and provide a better user experience. For these reasons, this is becoming a popular practice in data storage and management strategies.
Energy-efficient technologies Apart from their assets – data – data centres also consume energy through their infrastructure and equipment. While servers and cooling systems account for the greatest share of electricity use, other equipment like storage drives and network devices contribute significantly to the overall share. That’s why it’s important to maximise their efficiency and get rid of redundant hardware. A green data centre does not contain obsolete
systems, such as inactive or underused servers. For example, low-power servers use smart computing to balance performance with energy consumption. In data centres, these can be much more efficient that conventional servers and can significantly reduce the operation costs of cooling facilities, as they generate less heat. To achieve a more sustainable data centre, a viable solution might be to replace obsolete
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
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