DATA CENTRES


ABB’s Data Centre sales leader for North Europe, James Madden, oers his insights on how the supply chain can support data centre operators in their aempts to increase eciency, flexibility, and resilience for the coming decade of data


decade. Data demand will undoubtedly rise as 5G becomes widespread, giving consumers access to mobile download speeds up to ten times faster than 4G. Meanwhile, the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to expand, with machine-to-machine communication increasing year over year. Similarly, use of the cloud for storage and computing continues to become more common, further increasing strain on data centres. As a result, data centre power requirements will increase proportionally as more devices connect and existing devices consume more data. While it’s clear that demand will increase, exactly how much it will increase by remains unclear. As such, the power and cooling requirements for future data centres are unknown, so operators are turning to flexible, modular and energy-efficient architectures. One estimate by RWTH Aachen University has predicted that Germany’s data centre electricity demand could rise by 3.5 terawatt- hours (TWh) over the next five years – equivalent to the power used by 2.5 million people. This massive predicted growth in power demand is likely to draw the attention of regulators concerned about the environmental impact of the industry. Operators must therefore be ready to make the case for their critical role in supporting industry, households, and transportation while also participating in efforts to improve energy efficiency and use power from renewable sources.


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How are operators responding to this?


In the face of uncertainty, data centre operators are adopting a pragmatic approach to scaling. Novel designs promise to meet demand more efficiently and enable quick expansion to keep up with demand. One example is that large scale operators are turning to medium voltage power distribution architectures rather than traditional low voltage systems.


Medium voltage allows operators to optimise their electrical assets and improve energy efficiency. Additionally, advances in UPS and battery storage technology are allowing greater freedom from the grid and enabling data centres to participate in demand-side response (DSR) schemes. These advances come with new design challenges, however we are working with customers to overcome these teething


BSEE


Powering data centres for a decade of increased demand


hile data centres are well suited to meeting current demand for data, the industry has begun preparing for a significant rise over the coming


problems to ensure reliability, efficiency, and 24-hour availability.


Operators are also taking a modular approach to expansion. A ‘build as you grow’ strategy allows data centres to expand capacity at the same time as demand. This is a perfect example of how the supply chain is working to support the industry. Prefabricated power modules mounted on skids, for instance, can be easily installed using our off-the-shelf components – switchgear, transformers, and UPS systems – to facilitate rapid expansion.


The challenge here is in increasing our speed of deployment and agility as operators are planning for shorter build times. This puts us under continuous pressure. We are responding with standardised and modular power trains and by rolling out digitalisation in our own factories. We’re also encouraging data centre operators to see us as a partner from the concept stage so that we can help them with planning, total lifecycle management and smooth execution.


What other uncertainties are there in the market?


In addition to the technical challenges facing data centre operators, they must also contend with ongoing Brexit uncertainty. Negotiations with the EU regarding international data flow may affect the UK’s ability to pass data across borders. Therefore, operators may want to deploy new capacity before the end of the year. Needless to say, we will be closely monitoring these negotiations and will be prepared to help operators react.


Grid outages are another source of uncertainty. When lightning strikes caused a major outage on the UK grid last August, it highlighted a potential risk to a sector focused on resilience and uninterrupted uptime. Some operators are considering turning to continuous onsite generation as part of a microgrid strategy. Gas- powered generators will provide independence and resilience and have a lower impact on the environment than diesel alternatives. Technology will be important here. For example, MV UPS systems can support islanding entire facilities from grid disturbances while protection and control schemes can help to automate islanding, load shedding and participation in DSR schemes.


How much impact has digitalisation had on data centres?


The level of adoption still varies widely across data centres, largely depending on their function


and level of risk. With a wide array of digitalisation options, operators are able to choose the right technology for their facility, whether that means installing new infrastructure or retrofitting legacy systems. For instance, modern Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM) systems provide operators with continuous updates on the performance and power consumption of their facilities. This increased visibility enables operators to better understand demand and performance to make better strategic decisions – and a clear view of data and trends will be a major advantage when tracking rising demand over the next decade.


How can technology help data centres be more competitive?


A noteworthy trend is the shift toward multi-tenant data centres and colocation facilities. This is driven largely by demand for multi-megawatt cloud, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) applications. Multi-tenant centres are an effective solution in these cases as they enable quick response to growing demand and greater space efficiency. These facilities take advantage of economies of scale to cut costs, as well as increased energy efficiency. We’re helping these operators with modularity, reduced physical footprint, and industry-leading energy efficiency. For example, the new ABB MegaFlex UPS, unveiled at Data Centre World 2020, is a prime example. It provides 1,500 kW backup in a footprint 45 percent smaller than competing systems.


Overall, ABB understands that operators continue to prioritise total cost of ownership (TCO) over capital expenditure and the company will continue to support greater energy efficiency, speed, and throughput over the coming decade.


Read the latest at: www.bsee.co.uk


BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MARCH 2020 11


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