• • • DATA CENTRE MANAGEMENT • • •
Is Data Centre Uptime on the Line? W
hen referring to data centre uptime, 99.9% is the magic figure. Anything below this may lead to issues that simply
cannot occur, given how vital these facilities are to modern life. For example, a five-hour power outage at a UK data centre in 2022 temporarily took the London Metal Exchange offline, greatly hampering traders. Incidents like these demonstrate to engineers the outsized impact of ostensibly ‘minor’ disruption to data centres, which is why constant uptime has remained the ultimate prize. Similarly, according to the Uptime Institute’s Annual Outages Analysis, power overwhelmingly remains the main cause of significant facility outages by a wide margin.
It is for this reason that Aggreko has published its latest report demonstrating challenges to maintaining uptime in key European markets. Titled Uptime on the Line?, the report explores the operational challenges of doing so in an industry where market pressures such as energy use, sustainability and third-party oversight are becoming more prominent.
Uptime on the Line The whitepaper consulted 700 data centre professionals working for large businesses in the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden on these topics. Issues touched on also included the state of current grid infrastructure, power outages, local energy prices and supply chain delays, and how these are affecting engineers in facility construction and operations.
The picture painted is an interesting one, with national markets split on matters such as how the different countries’ grids could meet current and future demand, and important factors when selecting a data centre’s location. However, greater consensus could be found on other topics, including the importance of working with suppliers that prioritise environmental, social and guidance strategies, and the potential role demand side response (DSR) could play in offsetting energy prices.
Powering the future
Though respondents said these pressures affected every major European market in different ways, overarching conclusions can be reached. Namely, issues such as grid constraints, extreme and unseasonal weather, and tightening sustainability legislation is already making it challenging to keep existing data centres online.
This would be troubling enough without factoring in the need to build more facilities, especially in the wake of recent industry predictions that the major data centre markets will experience unprecedented growth. For example,
Billy Durie, global sector head – data centres at Aggreko, explores the threats to data centre uptime across Europe, and what can be done to address it
built environment body CBRE are forecasting that 524MW of capacity will be added to the FLAP-D markets over 2023.
While real estate experts JLL are forecasting a smaller expansion of 432MW, this figure still represents a record-breaking 17% growth rate across these major regions. This is also to say nothing of predictions that Madrid is set to achieve a similar level of capacity to Paris by the end of 2024.
Considering these figures, an already power-
hungry sector will only become more voracious over time. Between this and continuing uncertainty on energy prices, electrical engineers responsible for helping service this demand may face an unenviable situation finding solutions.
Common challenges
Given these existing and expected pressures, the question must be asked over whether it is feasible to rely on conventional centralised energy models and ageing, overstretched onsite equipment. Additionally, the need to decarbonise sites in line with EU and UK net zero pledges poses further challenges.
The market is already beginning to shift on this, with large organisations across Europe currently transitioning to HVO fuel in its facilities. Engineers therefore cannot stand still when specifying utility
equipment, especially with sustainability regulations becoming even more stringent as we near important net zero deadlines such as 2035 and 2050.
Bridging solutions Faced with these obstacles, it is clear electrical engineers must adapt their current strategies to improve resilience for existing and upcoming facilities. Uptime on the Line? explores these circumstances further and posits the effectiveness of short- and long-term temporary equipment procurement as a potential solution. With the modularity and adaptability offered in both power and temperature control provision potentially an ideal fit for uncertain times, the report highlights how tactical short-term solutions can be used to alleviate immediate risk. Alongside this, attention is paid to how strategic, long-term deployment of generator and chiller equipment may present a cost-effective method of safeguarding uptime while circumventing capex concerns associated with permanent installations. In conclusion, by engaging with leading suppliers and experts in this field, electrical engineers can place themselves ahead of the curve and stave off the risk of utility disruption that could hamstring the booming data centre market.
24 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • JUNE 2023
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
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