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The Environmental Footprint of Data Centres: A Growing Concern in the Digital Age

In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, Standby Systems, a premier distributor of AROS RIELLO UPS systems in Southern Africa, wishes to bring to light the increasing environmental impact of data centres. With the advent of Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT), the number of connected devices was reportedly going to reach 50 billion by the end of 2020 (Software.org). This surge in connectivity escalates the demand for data and energy, intensifying the need for effective data storage solutions.

The Energy Challenge in Data Centres

Data centres, at the crux of the digital ecosystem, are huge energy consumers, accounting for about 3% of global energy production and contributing at least 2% to global greenhouse gas emissions—equal to the environmental impact of the aviation industry. To make matters worse, data centre energy consumption doubles every four years, despite advancements in hardware efficiency.

Energy usage in data centres is two-fold. Firstly, powering IT equipment, like servers and UPS systems, and secondly, powering cooling mechanisms to prevent overheating. In fact, up to 60% of a data centre’s operational cost is electricity! 

Recognizing the urgent need for sustainability, data centre operators, regardless of their size or configuration, are moving towards more energy-efficient practices to reduce carbon emissions. This shift aligns with new European directives and regulations mandating transparency in greenhouse gas reduction efforts, with significant penalties for non-compliance.

Evolving Efficiency Metrics in Data Centres

The Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), introduced by the Green Grid consortium, serves as the metric in assessing the ratio of the total power used by a data centre to the power used solely by IT equipment. A lower PUE value indicates greater efficiency, signifying more energy is utilized directly by IT equipment rather than ancillary services like cooling systems or UPSs.

Standby Systems recognises the evolution in data centre energy efficiency, particularly in the realm of modular UPS systems. Historically, a major portion of a data centre’s energy consumption was attributed to air conditioning systems. The adoption of advanced cooling methods like separate hot and cold corridors and Rear Door Heat Exchangers (RDHx) has reduced these energy losses.

Yet, enhancing energy efficiency extends beyond just cooling solutions, and UPS systems play a valuable role in energy optimization. Traditional UPS systems, often oversized at the time of installation, led to decreased efficiency under partial load conditions. This inefficiency has been addressed with the advent of modular UPS systems.

Modular UPS units offer the following advantages:

Improved Efficiency

By aligning the UPS capacity closely with actual power requirements, modular systems ensure optimal efficiency and reduced energy wastage.

Scalability and Flexibility

The modular design allows for easy expansion, adhering to the “pay as you grow” philosophy. Facility managers can add modules vertically within existing racks or horizontally by adding new racks.

Reduced Size and Cooling Needs

Modern modular UPS units are compact and generate less heat, thus necessitating less cooling.

Transformerless Technology

This feature enhances overall efficiency by approximately 5%, with the potential to achieve up to 96% efficiency even at a quarter of the load capacity.

Ease of Maintenance

The “hot-swappable” nature of these modules ensures maintenance and replacements can take place without interrupting the data centre’s power protection system.

Enhancing Data Centre Efficiency with Advanced Modular UPS Technologies

Standby Systems highlights how modular UPS systems can impact data centre efficiency, aligning with the modern needs for energy conservation and operational flexibility.

One key feature of modular UPS units is the “ECO mode”, which can significantly boost efficiency levels by up to 99%. However, the use of ECO mode requires careful evaluation due to potential risks to critical loads in data centres, emphasizing the need for case-by-case assessment.

Further increasing the efficiency of modular UPS systems is their integration with Energy Management Systems (EMS) and Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM) software. This integration transforms the UPS into an intelligent system capable of continuously monitoring and processing crucial data such as operating temperatures, mains supply voltage, and battery life. This real-time information optimises the system’s performance and identifies areas for future improvement, thereby contributing to ongoing CO2 emission reduction efforts.

For large-scale data centres spread across various locations, the remote monitoring capabilities of these UPS systems enable effective load management and efficiency enhancement, even in unmanned facilities.

Additionally, the adoption of lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries in UPS systems marks a significant step forward. These batteries, known for their high-power density and compact size, are ideal for energy storage during low-demand periods. This stored energy can be used during peak times or power interruptions and load shedding.

Case Study: Carbon Emission Reduction in Data Centres Through Advanced UPS Upgrades

The impact of advanced UPS technology in reducing CO2 emissions in data centres was highlighted in a project involving the overhaul of the power supply system for two data centres belonging to an international consumer goods supplier.

Originally installed in 2007, these data centres were equipped with 400 kVA and 800 kVA static UPS units operating at 12-25% of their maximum load, leading to an average efficiency of just 92%. The primary distribution room recorded even lower efficiency at 89%, resulting in considerable energy wastage. Substantial cooling requirements further escalated energy consumption, incurring significant costs.

The solution came with the replacement of these outdated systems with Riello UPS Multi Power units. These modern, modular, transformer-free UPS systems are tailored to meet the efficiency needs of contemporary data centres. Post-installation, the efficiency of the UPS increased remarkably from 92% to 96%, enabling considerable savings in overall power consumption.

The environmental benefits were equally impressive, with a substantial reduction of 71.89% in annual carbon emissions and a decrease in air conditioning costs by 71.81%. The implementation of these advanced UPS units also led to savings in consumption equivalent to the energy required to power hundreds of homes annually.

In addition, the project resulted in a 59% reduction in the physical footprint of the UPS systems, freeing up valuable space for future expansion.

Conclusion

The evolving demands on data centres in Europe, currently consuming nearly 250 TWh of energy annually, underline the necessity for energy-efficient solutions. Standby Systems, through its distribution of state-of-the-art UPS systems in Southern Africa, is at the forefront of this movement in this part of the world, championing energy conservation and operational efficiency in data centres across various sizes and configurations. For more information, read our blogReducing Carbon Footprint in Data Centres: The Role of Modular UPS Systems”, or visit Standby Systems’ website or contact us at 011 794 2541 or 011 794 3406 or WhatsApp 082 450 2361. 

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