• • • DATA CENTRES & UPS • • •
Part of the solution: how data centres can change the sustainability narrative
The UK is approaching an energy crisis as it faces its largest risk of blackouts for six years, says Russ Barker, prodzuct and sales director at Vertiv Ireland
E
nergy demands are rising, and with coal plants and nuclear reactors shutting down, the National Grid is left with the tough job of keeping the lights on this winter.
Already contributing to 3% of global energy con- sumption, data centres have been taking some of the blame for today’s increasing levels of energy usage, electricity in particular.
However, at the same time, there has never been more demand for data centres.
Growing data use, driven by increased reliance on digital services such as ecommerce and video-call- ing, is leading to a boom in data centre expansion. A recent report by Technavio indicating the data centre market in Europe is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 20% by 2025.
Data centres have also gained a utility like status over the last 18 months, but with recognition comes more scrutiny. The industry is under pressure to take meaningful steps towards decarbonisation.
THE FUTURE OF DECARBON- ISATION AND THE RISE OF DEMAND-SIDE SERVICES
To help meet global targets of achieving climate neu- trality by 2050, data centre operators can play their part through the adoption of renewable energy and sustainability strategies. Here, Google and Amazon Web Services are ahead of the game.
For example, Google announced in 2020 that it had matched 100% of its global electricity use with the purchase of renewable energy for the fourth year in a row, and in some regions is now running net zero carbon emission workloads.
Additionally, all the technology giants have set goals to be carbon neutral by 2030, with Microsoft having ambitions of becoming carbon negative and remov- ing past carbon emissions from the atmosphere. It’s put aside a $1 billion investment fund for this purpose.
While these are steps in the right direction, the IEA’s Data Centre and Data Transmission Network Report urge an informed approach. It recommends that data centre operators investing in renewables identify the projects that will most benefit the local grid by collaborating with electricity utilities, project developers and regulators. After all, matching 100% of annual demand with renewable energy certificates
(REC) is not the same as ensuring data centres are 100% powered by renewable sources 24/7. A simple solution is to work with local renewa- ble power operators by establishing direct Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). With a portfolio of renewable energy products behind them, data centre providers can claim 100% renewable use, avoiding accusations of greenwashing.
Here we can learn from our Irish cousins, in a country where data centre demands on the grid is a hot topic. Some interesting partnerships have been formed between operators and power companies. For example, Facebook signed a wind farm agreement with Brookfield Renewable Partners, and Amazon has invested in a new 115-megawatt wind farm pro- ject in Galway, expected to begin operating in 2022. Finally, the more sustainable the data centre, the more it can contribute to wider decarbonisation goals. Take Amazon’s wind farms, the projected annual reduction of CO2 equates to an extra 290 MW of renewable energy for the grid, enough to power 185,000 homes a year.
Any industry transitioning to renewables experi- ences the same challenge; energy sources such as wind and solar are less stable and predictable than their coal and nuclear counterparts. Here de- mand-side services can provide a solution, giving data centres greater energy storage capabilities while protecting the grid from faults and contributing to the optimisation of electricity supplies.
These services offer assistance to the grid in man- aging the power system efficiently. They accommo-
22 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • SEPTEMBER 2021
date increased renewable electricity use and provide enhanced capacity.
IT’S TIME TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE
The current media narrative focuses on data centres placing a huge load on existing electricity supplies. However, through advanced UPS technologies, data centres can actually reduce their reliance on the grid and support the transition to renewable energy sources.
Today’s UPSs have grid support features with the ability to store surplus renewable energy. Having ad- vanced beyond a battery backup, these devices now help to make data centres more self-sufficient and cost-effective as they can come off the grid and rely on stored power during peak times. This also presents a revenue generating incentive for data centre opera- tors as they can sell the surplus electricity back to the grid, providing them with a new source of income
A GREENER FUTURE As significant consumers of power, data centres need to lead the charge towards greater sustainability through the use of smart UPS and environmental practices. The road to decarbonisation is long but with the right tools and resources, data centres can be more than just consumers of power. They can play a key role in the balancing act between avoiding blackouts and ensuring that the UK moves towards a greener future.
electricalengieneeringmagazine.co.uk
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