Power & Cooling

Asperitas and Shell immerse themselves in keeping IT and the planet cool

As governments stumble to get a firm footing in battling climate change, global industry leaders are stepping in to take the lead. In the world of power-hungry data centres, companies big and small are coming together as part of the Open Compute Project (OCP) to build consensus and paint the industry green. In collaboration, Shell and Asperitas believe they have a sustainable solution to keep your IT equipment cool: Immersing it in a specialised cooling fluid to drastically reduce energy consumption, while simultaneously harnessing waste heat energy for reuse. Ready or not, the energy transition is coming. But maybe not the way you expect. This part of the transition isn’t coming from government regulations to try to cap emissions. Rather, it is stemming from industry leaders and technological innovators putting their heads together to lessen our carbon footprint and mitigate our collective impact. For the last two years, Shell and Netherlands-based Asperitas have been doing just that. The duo has set its crosshairs on energy-guzzling data centres that are devouring huge amounts of power and contributing largely to emissions of CO2. The solution: Immersion-based cooling of IT. In other words, sinking electronics and IT equipment into baths of a specially formulated dielectric liquid that can effectively, and very efficiently, cool the components. OCP A couple of years ago, while Asperitas was still in its R&D phase, the data centre cooling specialist recognised its potential to have drastic effect on the industry. It was at this time, in 2018, that the Amsterdam-based startup reached out to start first collaborations with Shell, and in the same year looked to take a leading role in shaping the immersion cooling industry by joining ranks in the Open Compute Project (OCP), a community-based foundation aimed at elevating the IT industry by sharing IP, ideas and best practices in a quest to evolve the industry. The idea being that through shared experiences and collaboration, the group could establish new hardware designs that are optimised and tailored to specific needs, offering end users high efficiency and scalability. Almost two years ago OCP launched the Advanced Cooling Solutions (ACS) initiative within the Rack & Power work group, where Rolf Brink, founder and CEO of Asperitas, became the project leader for the immersion-cooling pillar of the initiative. According to Mr Brink, there wasn’t much consensus within immersion cooling, as there was no common frame of reference, and requirements within the realm were non-existent. In his role at ACS, however, he got the opportunity to work with a community of global industry leaders that together discussed and formulated projects to help the industry move forward. “Up to this point, the dunk and pray strategy was the most common practice in the domain. People would go buy an off-the-shelf server, make some small modifications through the thermal interface material on the CPU and then dunk it in the liquid and hope it kept working,” laughs Brink. “But eventually, through collaborative efforts, we were able to publish a white paper on the minimum requirements for immersion cooling. For the first time, we had established a basic frame of reference for the domain, and we had a good starting point.” Compatibility Soon after, the ACS group kicked off a new project focused on liquid compatibility. “There are two main families of liquids that can be optimised for the immersion cooling sector, hydrocarbons and fluorocarbons. OEMs and superscalers don’t have the expertise, the time, or the interest to go and test hundreds of different liquids and setups to see if it was a viable option. Disrupting Asperitas has really been pushing to make a name for itself and shed light on the new possibilities in the data centre cooling market. For a few years now, the scale-up has been at the cusp of breaking in and drastically disrupting the industry with its technology. Now it seems they’ve caught the attention of the industry, from OEMs to integrators and even leading enterprises like telecommunication specialists and hyperscale cloud providers. Not only have they been named one of the energy sector’s top global innovations of the decade by the World Economic Forum, but recently, OCP officially recognised the Asperitas’ Open Cassette as an OCP Accepted Product Accessory, a real milestone for the company. The system, which requires little more than a standard power outlet and a water line for operation, stores the IT deep into a fluid bath, all contained within its own housing. The IT equipment is then cooled through the process of natural convection where the liquid can absorb up to 1500 times the heat energy compared to more traditional air-cooling solutions, potentially slashing the energy footprint of data centres in half. More interesting yet is the fact that nearly all the waste heat energy is captured in the liquid and can be transferred and reused – making it an even more sustainable option. Shell immersion cooling fluid based on GTL technology For its part in the collaboration, Shell has taken on the responsibility of engineering the specialised fluid used in the immersion cooling process. Shell Immersion Cooling Fluid S5 X is a synthetic, single-phase fluid developed specifically for immersion cooled data servers. The fluid uses Shell’s unique gas-to-liquids technology and has been optimised for Asperitas’ natural-convection-driven immersion cooling servers but can also be used in servers with pumps. The fluid is designed to reduce energy costs and emissions through its high cooling efficiency, excellent flow behaviour and thermodynamic properties. Shell Immersion Cooling Fluid S5 X is compatible with most commonly used server materials and being non-corrosive and virtually free from sulphur, nitrogen and aromatics ensures high server reliability and lifetime.

Mitigating risk to UPS installation

Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) are designed to protect critical loads and to mitigate risk to critical infrastructures, including data centres. However, care needs to be taken as risk to the load can be re-introduced through the UPS itself, writes Tim Ng, Sales Engineer at Centiel UK. The three biggest risks are: purchasing a lesser quality UPS system without realising the implications of doing so, the use of unapproved maintenance procedures and not replacing aging equipment at the appropriate time. As a result, failure can have far reaching consequences for the operation in terms of damaged reputation and lost business due to unexpected downtime. Replacement before failure Most (sensible!) people replace their cars before they get to the point where they keep breaking down. It’s the same with a UPS. Inevitably as equipment ages, components become less reliable and available, and the risk of failure is increased. However, we regularly come across UPS systems that have significantly exceeded their recommended design life and should have been replaced years ago. To be blunt, by continuing to run and maintain an aging UPS you are putting your trust in a system with a much higher probability of failure. Sometimes it’s down to a lack of technical guidance about when to make the decision to replace the UPS, but more often than not, it’s down to securing budget. However, in the event of a major outage and a situation where an ageing UPS fails, a business could lose millions for the sake of a small investment in new equipment. There are also significant gains to be made. For example, modern UPS systems are far more efficient and can slash operational expenditure dramatically. Picture a data centre with 1MW of critical load supported by a UPS system with an efficiency of 90%. Based on an average unit price of 14p/kWh the running cost of this UPS will be around £135,000 per year. Now picture a new UPS supporting the same load at the same p/kWh but with an efficiency of 97% - the running costs are reduced dramatically to around £38,000 per year. If you consider that the average commercial electricity p/kWh is projected to increase by as much as 40% in 2022, this makes a very strong case to replace ageing inefficient equipment. A new UPS could pay for itself in just a few years. Quality counts When selecting a UPS, it is important to make the right choice. If a quote appears to be too good to be true, maybe it is! Quality equipment and components can cost more but there is a reason for this. Manufacturers invest heavily into research and development to ensure that the components selected for use in their products meet a strict set of performance standards. This means that they can deliver the most robust and reliable systems to their clients. Ultimately, the aim of any quality UPS manufacturer is to produce a system that has the highest availability, with reduced running costs and minimised risk of system downtime. Maintenance matters As with any new car, using an unapproved technician to service your UPS will likely invalidate the warranty. A new UPS should always be maintained by an approved factory trained engineer or manufacturer recommended maintenance technician. A UPS requires regular preventative maintenance. An essential part of this is for the correct software updates to be deployed, which ensures optimal functionality. Sometimes unapproved engineers will take on a maintenance contract that they are unable to fully support. As well as invalidating warranties, essential software updates will be missed, which can impact the UPS’s functionality. The consequence of using unapproved engineers can be serious. For example, putting a UPS into bypass for maintenance using an incorrect switching sequence can introduce a fault into the system, causing catastrophic failure. Correct preventative maintenance will also enable ageing components to be identified and replaced early. Environmental factors, such as temperature and dust, can also invalidate warranties and reduce the life span of the UPS. Trained maintenance engineers will monitor these issues and take corrective action where necessary. A further benefit of using approved factory trained engineers is that they can become a trusted advisor. At Centiel, the company’s engineers work closely with clients to advise what actions are required, following preventative maintenance to maximise the performance of their systems. A UPS will protect the critical load to a datacentre for many years. However, to mitigate the risk of the failure of the UPS itself, select a quality solution, ensure it is maintained correctly and replace the equipment before it reaches the end of its design life.

Smart technology to address the data centre energy drain

After the failures of COP26, it became evident that for real change to be implemented, large organisations would have to take matters into their own hands over energy. However, in an increasingly digitalised world, certain technologies, namely data centres, that we view as essential, take centre-stage in data consumption. In this piece, we spoke to Matthew Margetts, Director at Smarter Technologies. Inside vast factories bigger than aircraft carriers, tens of thousands of circuit boards are racked row upon row. They stretch down windowless halls so long that staff ride through the corridors on scooters. In an increasingly digitalised world, data centres are the information backbone, with demand continuing to grow along with data-intensive technologies. Estimated to account for as much as 1% of worldwide electricity use, data centres are energy-intensive enterprises.   In Ireland, data centres could account for about 25% of the country’s electricity usage by 2030, potentially leading to electricity supply challenges. Fearing the pressure data centres place on the national grid, countries such as the Netherlands and Singapore have gone so far as to stop issuing building permits to data centres.   Why do data centres require so much energy?  To provide constant power supply with minimum disruptions Electricity used by IT devices such as servers, storage drives and network devices is converted into heat, which must be removed from the data centre by cooling equipment that also runs on electricity Facilities must be kept at the appropriate temperature  Additional equipment such as humidifiers and monitors are also required   The energy impact of data centres is undeniable, but so is the need for these facilities to handle the world’s ever-increasing data demands. What can’t be ignored is the energy efficiency trends that have developed in parallel. The IEA reports that although workloads and internet traffic have nearly tripled, data centre energy consumption has flatlined for the past three years.  Here’s what can be done to improve data centre energy efficiency and sustainability:   High-efficiency equipment  The use of server virtualisation and ARM-based processors can help reduce the energy consumption of IT devices. This new technology is designed to perform fewer types of computer instructions, allowing them to operate at a higher speed and resulting in better performance at a fraction of the power. The servers of today are more powerful and efficient than ever before, and the technology continues to improve.  Renewable energy   One of the best ways to match the rise in ICT workload energy is to ensure a corresponding increase in the usage of renewable energy sources.   By moving part of their high-intensity computing hardware to alternative locations using renewable energy, companies can benefit from a more sustainable energy source while taking energy off the national grid. A location like Iceland boasts reliable, low-cost renewable energy.   By moving part of their high-intensity computing hardware to alternative locations using renewable energy, companies can benefit from a more sustainable energy source while taking energy off the national grid. A location like Iceland boasts reliable, low-cost renewable energy.   Big data centre operators such as Google are establishing solar generation plants to offset their data centre usage on the grid, using small panels coupled with battery storage to reduce non-critical functions such as engine heaters, office air-conditioning, fuel polishing and lighting.   Intelligent power distribution management  The key to better energy efficiency in data centres is managing power load and distribution. For example, reducing the number of servers needed during low traffic hours. Rather than leaving all servers idle, some servers can be turned off when not needed while others run at full throttle. Matching the server capacity to real-time demands is made possible through smart monitoring and management tools.   It’s also important to remove 'zombie servers', which are servers that have become redundant and are no longer in use, yet are still powered on and consuming energy. Research shows that 25% of physical servers are zombies, along with 30% of virtual servers. In general, these servers haven’t been shut down because operators don’t know what they contain or what they are used for. To deal with this problem proactively, every server and function must be documented and monitored appropriately using asset management software.   Optimised cooling  In conventional data centres, standard air conditioning uses a significant proportion of the centre’s energy bill. All IT equipment must remain at safe temperatures, which is why proper ventilation and cooling is so important.  Measures managers can take to optimise cooling include the following:  Proper insulation can help maintain temperatures within the room. Strategic equipment layout and streamlined airflow can also improve cooling efficiencies. A popular solution is to locate data centres in cool climates and use the outside air to cool the inside. This is known as free cooling.  Piped water is a good conductor of heat. Warm water can be used as a less energy-intensive way to cool data centres.  Cleaning up workloads and eliminating unnecessary equipment.Replace older cooling systems with new technology to improve efficiencies.  Machine learning and automation in data centres can also be used to optimise cooling system setpoints for variable outside conditions, which provides a number of marginal energy gains.  Heat transfer technology  Using the heat coming off the servers is like taking advantage of a free resource. For example, an IBM data centre in Switzerland warms a nearby swimming pool with its waste heat.   However, because heat doesn’t travel well, the use of waste heat is generally limited to data centres that can supply nearby customers or cities that already use piped hot water to heat homes.  Energy offsets  The information age is making buildings smarter and more energy efficient. With fairly simple automations such as occupancy sensors that turn off lights and HVAC when no one is in a room, along with informed decision-making as a result of access to real-time utility consumption data, building managers can use smart technology and building management systems to reduce their carbon footprints. This infrastructure is facilitated by data centres, so one could argue that some of the energy being used by data centres is offset by the lower consumption of the smart buildings they service.   Policy making and planning  Decision-makers need to be able to confidently and accurately evaluate future efficiency and mitigation options. Policymakers and energy planners need to be able to:  Monitor future data centre energy use trendsUnderstand key energy use driversAssess the effectiveness of various policy interventions In order to do this, data analysts need access to reliable data sources on the energy consumption characteristics of IT devices and cooling/power systems.   Smart metering technology is just the start - along with the data from smart meters, energy managers need a platform with data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities in order to make the most of the data they are presented with.   Data centre operations require a safe, efficient and dependable power supply. There’s no doubt that sustainability is going to be the overriding trend that will remain front and centre within the data centre industry for the foreseeable future. Fortunately, the very same smart technology that is necessitating the growth of data centres is also helping to make them more energy efficient and future-fit.  

Delta's UPS and data centre solutions to expand in Portugal

Delta has announced a new partnership with DATABOX - Informática to provide Delta’s wide range of energy-efficient Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) and Data Centre Infrastructure Solutions to IT resellers and system integrators throughout Portugal. By leveraging their close collaboration as well as Delta’s core competencies in energy-efficient ICT infrastructure and DATABOX – Informática’s deep expertise in the local market, this partnership is expected to meet the demanding requirements for edge computing in Portugal. Commenting on the partnership with Delta, João Pedro Reis, CEO of DATABOX - Informática states: “Delta’s smart energy efficient solutions are world-renowned for their energy savings and reliability which, combined with the company’s commitment to sustainability, means that we are proud to partner with such an established and recognised brand that complements our values, products and services. By working closely with Delta, we will be able to help our IT resellers and system integrators to deliver highly reliable UPS and data centre solutions to their customers.” Jaime Palma, channel manager of Mission Critical Infrastructure Solutions (MCIS) in Portugal for the Delta Electronics EMEA region, adds: “DATABOX – Informática is a well-established national IT distributor which has an excellent reputation and long-lasting relationships with its suppliers and customers. Its superior local stockholding, sales force and customer capabilities, combined with Delta’s highly quality products, can offer IT resellers and system integrators the ideal solution for their needs. Delta looks forward to expanding the relationship into other Delta portfolio solutions to help Portuguese corporations enhance their competitive edge through higher energy efficiency and higher productivity.” The award-winning UPSs designed by Delta act as advanced power managers, ensuring the availability of an uninterrupted power supply to protect hardware and mission critical applications. High-quality UPSs function as an essential safeguard against many potential energy issues, including voltage surges and spikes, voltage sags, total power failure, and frequency differences. With the rise of edge computing, Delta also offers its InfraSuite Datacentre Infrastructure Solutions to support its customers in building an optimal data centre with fully-integrated infrastructure solutions.

Six benefits of lithium-ion technology for UPS systems

While known for powering laptops and mobile phones, lithium-ion batteries are now changing the field of Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems for the better, says Nils Horstbrink, Director Offer Management Power at Vertiv. This rechargeable battery addresses the drawbacks of the traditional Valve-Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) batteries commonly used for UPS systems. While VRLAs are less expensive, these heavier batteries are larger, and need more frequent replacement. Let’s take a close look at the practical benefits of using lithium-ion batteries for UPS. More compact and lightweight Lithium-ion batteries weigh 40% to 60% lighter and have a 40% smaller footprint than their VRLA counterparts. This translates into a remarkable power density level, where less space is needed to deliver the same amount of power. Lasts longer Lithium-ion batteries have a significantly longer lifespan - around twice or thrice that of VRLA batteries on average. Compared to a traditional VRLA battery technology that typically lasts three to five years, lithium-ion technology can provide a battery service life of eight to 10 years (or longer), often outlasting the UPS itself. This essentially makes the UPS almost maintenance-free, with fewer or possibly no battery replacements throughout its lifespan. Unlike VRLA batteries, lithium-ion batteries offer a high life cycle, making it suitable for many applications where frequent charge and discharge cycles are expected. Contributes to a lower total cost of ownership Regarding the total cost of ownership (TCO), lithium-ion batteries can provide up to 50% savings over their life expectancy. This is primarily due to their longer lifespan, high-temperature resilience, reduced maintenance expenses (with fewer or no battery replacement), and reduced installation expenses. Although VRLA batteries can surely save you money upfront, think of the bigger picture and consider the TCO. Faster to recharge UPS batteries need to be recharged as quickly as possible to full capacity. While VRLA batteries can take over six hours to charge from 0% to 90% of full runtime capacity, lithium-ion batteries take only around two hours to recharge. That reduces the overall risk of experiencing an outage before your UPS batteries have been fully charged. The cutting-edge lithium-ion battery technology has gone a long way to the advantage of many industries. With the many benefits it offers, a lithium-ion powered UPS is a must-have to secure your critical operations and lessen your operational costs. Resilient to higher temperatures Lithium-ion batteries can operate normally at temperatures of up to 40oC without compromising performance. This is a clear advantage of this battery technology over VRLA batteries, which shed off about half their lifespan for every 10oC temperature rise over 25oC. Since lithium-ion batteries have a wide operating temperature range, they become convenient for more extreme, non-traditional settings and facilities that don’t have enough cooling capabilities. Comes with advanced integrated battery management system Lithium-ion batteries come with an advanced integrated battery management system (BMS). This provides an accurate picture of the battery's health and runtime and protects the battery cells against current, temperature, and over- or under-charging. The BMS continuously adjusts battery charging to make the most out of performance and battery life.

How data centres will support renewable power adoption

By Janne Paananen, Technology Manager, Critical Power Systems, Eaton Data centres are central to almost everything in people’s increasingly digitally led lives. From managing the transportation we rely on, powering the supply chains that keep our supermarkets stocked, and communicating with our colleagues and loved ones, all is being made simpler, faster, and more efficient by data centre connectivity. This connectivity underpins our digital, social, and professional infrastructures, and as we saw with the COVID-19 pandemic, is robust in even the most challenging of circumstances. The increasing amount of work being done in data centres also means they are demanding more power than ever. A Swedish study on the global usage of electricity found that data centres and the networks associated with them may lead to information and communications technology (ICT) requiring even up to 21% of our total electricity production by 2030. While data centre-based solutions may often be more energy efficient than the processes they replace, this growth is still a problem in the context of our urgent need to decarbonise power production to meet climate targets. As a result, there is an ongoing global effort to make data centres greener, doing more work with fewer emissions, and it becomes possible to foresee a world where digital energy demand can be met entirely by renewables, something that many ICT companies are aiming for. Investments into renewable energy and supporting technology have been promoted using industry leading environmental and sustainability targets. The challenge of renewables Renewable energy sources bring green electrical energy, but they also bring other issues and engineering challenges. While some renewable energy sources offer predictable production (hydro), we are in fact moving towards a grid dominated by wind and solar. These variable renewable energy (VRE) sources, by nature, fluctuate in their output. It’s easy to see how this leads to potential problems. An electrical grid system must constantly match consumption with electricity production. This is fundamental to grid and frequency stability. But if VRE has fluctuating output, periods of over- and under-supply seem inevitable. Also, as VRE is replacing traditional turbine generators, it reduces system inertia i.e. stored energy in rotating mass resulting in faster and larger frequency deviations when mismatches between production and consumption occur. Grid operators are developing ways to manage that potential mismatch. But consumers can help too. Consumer on-site electrical systems, especially back up power systems, can actually help in grid stabilisation and therefore will enable the successful adoption of renewables on the grid. This help comes in the form of ancillary services that can be delivered ‘back’ to the grid operator. Rethinking the data centre On the one hand, we have an increasingly digitalised world requiring more and more power. On the other, we are seeing an enthusiastic uptake of renewable energy which, if we maintain that momentum, will require innovations in how we maintain security of supply. When thinking about how to build this future, it’s important to remember that these are not independent problems, and that the changes we’re heading towards should be more than a replacement of existing systems; as we transform power systems and digitalise everything from manufacturing to healthcare, we have an opportunity – and responsibility – to not just keep the lights on, but to rethink everything about how these essential services work. Data centres, of course, cannot afford power instability: by necessity, they are ‘always-on’. The services we all rely on need data centres with near-constant uptime. To ensure continuous power, data centres are outfitted with uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) with batteries and backup generators which step in to keep everything running when grid supply fails. A UPS needs to respond instantly to changes in supply, deliver large amounts of power, and do so with the utmost reliability. In other words, the qualities they need in order to support stable data centre operation also make them perfect for providing ancillary services to the grid, such as quickly adjusting its demand from the grid or feeding in energy. These fast actions can stabilise a grid and contain grid frequency. Making this a reality requires some work: a data centre UPS will need to be aware of how the grid is operating, while the grid will need to be ready to receive supply from data centres as well as deliver power to them. Eaton’s recent research with Microsoft demonstrates that building the systems to make it work is possible and how data centres can support the grid in real-world testing. As an example, Eaton’s headquarters in Dublin is now home to a new UPS that successfully provides fast frequency response services to the local grid by reducing the building’s demand when grid frequency drops. This potential shift in how we use our data centre capabilities will mean a complete rethink of the role of power consumers on the grid. Before, electricity transmission was a one-way street from production to consumption; now, we are seeing how it can be bidirectional and interactive, and everyone has their roles to play, from grid operators to consumers. Before, a system like a UPS was an operational necessity and a necessary expense, now we are seeing how it can be a source of revenue when ancillary services are sold back to the grid operator. As for data centres, we are seeing how their centrality to modern life is more than just digital services. As they begin supporting the renewable energy grid, we may start to see them not just as data centres, but as energy centres helping to decarbonise electricity and creating a digital and sustainable future for all.

Allied offers Altech cutting-edge power protection solution

With power grid infrastructure modernisation years away, companies need uninterrupted, reliable power solutions to protect and maintain operations and assets during weather-related events and unexpected outages. For many companies, Altech's CBI All-in-One DC Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) is an ideal solution. Allied Electronics & Automation is proud to now offer this complete battery charging, management, and monitoring system. "We developed the CBI DC UPS system because we realised many companies still depend on outdated battery back-ups and generators to keep the power on, and frankly, they just aren't up to the task anymore," explains Laszlo Gyorgypal, Product Manager at Altech. "To solve that problem, we designed battery-related technology that's able to address modern emergency power requirements." The result of Altech's efforts is a unique multi-purpose device, an all-in-one power solution that seamlessly combines four key capabilities: AC/DC power supply unit, battery charger, battery care module, and backup module. In addition, the CBI UPS' power distribution and management capabilities are hard to match:   Available power is automatically distributed among load and battery, supplying power to the load as the first priority.If the device is disconnected from the main power source, the battery supplies the load until the battery voltage reaches 1.5V per cell to prevent deep discharge of the battery.A microprocessor controls battery charging by determining the battery condition and selecting the appropriate charging mode.A real-time diagnostics system continuously monitors the charging process and flags potential faults such as short circuits, reverse polarity connection, and battery disconnection. The CBI DC UPS's main features are equally impressive and include:  Space-saving all-in-one systemUniversal input voltage range: 110VAC, 230VAC or 277VACOutput voltages of 12V, 24V and 48V DC with current rating up to 35AWide temperature range: -30°C to 70°CRugged metal case with DIN rail mountUL certification for all versionsSelectable charging curves for a variety of battery chemistries "It's hard to overstate the impact the CBI UPS can have on a company's ability to operate and remain productive during an extended power outage," says Laszlo. "Old-school batteries and generators simply can't compare to the multi-stage smart-battery capabilities of the CBI system. It's a night and day difference for industrial applications." Multiple configurations of Altech's CBI UPS system are available at Allied. As an authorised distributor for Altech and many other brands, Allied helps engineers, plant managers, and other purchasers quickly find the products they need.

Key attributes of sustainable UPS and critical power systems

By Marc Garner, VP Secure Power Division, Schneider Electric, UK & Ireland One of the greatest challenges faced by today’s data centre operators is the need to meet demands for reliability with minimal impact on the environment. Data centres are estimated to represent between 1-2% of global electricity consumption and when combined with the continued growth of data centre capacity, efficiency and sustainability have become more critical than ever. In fact, a survey by Schneider Electric and 451 Research found that 97% of colocation customers are demanding contractual commitments to sustainability, and of the +800 global businesses surveyed, more than half believe that efficiency and sustainability will be important competitive differentiators within three years.  In recent years, data centre operators have come under increasing pressure to make their facilities more efficient, resilient, and sustainable. A growing awareness of the impacts of climate change, combined with end-user demands for sustainability, has seen a number of transformative initiatives take place within the sector, including the emergence of the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact. However, as sustainability demands continue to gather pace and become a key factor of both differentiation and decision making, how can an industry built on reliability, meet demands for resiliency and sustainable operations? A balancing act According to the Uptime Institute, "power remains the leading cause of outages," so it pays to invest in technologies that can balance the need to be environmentally-conscious and risk averse. Uptime and uninterruptible power are, in many respects, business-critical, and for data centre operators, a sustainable backup power system can offer a resilient solution to safeguard against downtime and meet environmental demands. One key attribute of a sustainable uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is its operating mode, which can boost the efficiency, or reduce the energy usage, without compromising on the level of redundancy. Advanced eco modes such as Schneider Electric’s patented ECOnversion technology, offers UPS efficiencies of up to 99% without sacrificing load protection alongside pioneering safety features, including Live Swap functions, which ensure unscheduled downtime is kept to a minimum during the maintenance process. Battery technologies UPS batteries and the associated number of charge or discharge cycles is another important sustainability attribute, especially if an organisation is looking to reduce its energy usage and emissions over the lifecycle. UPS systems that offer two to three times the life expectancy of traditional systems, such as those powered by Lithium-Ion (li-ion), can offer users significant benefits, including a 30%-50% lower total cost of ownership (TCO) and reduced carbon emissions.   Li-ion powered solutions can also have a  50-75% smaller physical footprint compared with valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries, thereby enabling the user to right size for the load and scale up according to power demands. This reduces the need for redundant infrastructure and wasted energy, meaning users can provision now and plan sustainably, for the future. Circularity attributes Another sustainability consideration is the circularity attribute of an uninterruptible power supply. Products labelled as Green Premium can ensure vendors are crystal clear about the sustainability impact of their hardware systems, and help end-users to gain a greater understanding of the technologies embodied carbon footprint. Such aspects might include transparent environmental information about products, minimal use of hazardous substances and compliance with regulations such a Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and the European Union (EU) Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). Further, environmental disclosures such as a Product Environmental Profile (PEP) or circularity profiles can provide owners and operators with guidance on responsible product end of life treatments along with circular value propositions.   A reduction in harmful materials Switchgear is another key attribute of a resilient power system and in recent years, many changes have been made to reduce its environmental impact. Until recently, sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) had long been used within high and medium voltage switchgear as an insulating and circuit-breaking medium, offering the advantages of being extremely effective and low cost. However, its one big disadvantage is that it is a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) and is 23,500 times more harmful than CO2. As such it is quickly being replaced by newer and more innovative switchgear technologies. These new systems combine pure air insulation, vacuum technology with innovative Shunt Vacuum Interruption to deliver industry-leading circuit-breaking performance with zero GHG emissions. Medium voltage switchgear systems incorporating these advanced sustainability improvements can deliver a proven solution for safer network management, while avoiding the use of GHGs, and eliminating the risks associated with leaks or toxic by-products. Furthermore, many of the anticipated cost efficiencies have already been addressed, which helps to support greater adoption of sustainable equipment in live and mission-critical environments. Today, meeting the need for needs for sustainable and resilient critical power systems is paramount. Yet, by carefully considering the type of technologies deployed, their energy efficiency and circular attributes, today’s data centre operators have the means to ensure operational continuity, while minimising their impact on the environment. 

Power distribution market to reach $7.9 billion by 2030: says AMR

According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global power distribution unit market was estimated at $4.1 billion in 2020 and is expected to hit $7.9 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 6.9% from 2021 to 2030. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the top investment pockets, top winning strategies, drivers and opportunities, market size and estimations, competitive scenario, and varying market trends. Rise in demand for stable power and increase in focus toward reducing energy losses drive the growth of the power distribution unit market. On the other hand, space constraint and complex wiring systems with increasing number of power distribution units restrain the growth to some extent. However, surge in number of data centres across the globe is projected to create lucrative opportunities in the industry. COVID-19 scenario During the pandemic, the trend of work-from-home has been highly effective for non-manufacturing sectors, which in turn gave way to utilisation of more spaces in data centres. This factor augmented the demand for power distribution units. However, dearth of raw materials hampered the production rate of power distribution unit, thereby giving a mixed impact to the global power distribution unit market. The global power distribution unit market is analysed across type, phase, end-user industry, and region. Based on type, the metered PDU segment accounted for more than one-fourth of the total market share in 2020, and is expected to rule the roost by 2030. The monitored PDU segment, however, would garner the fastest CAGR of 7.4% throughout the forecast period. Based on phase, the three segment contributed to nearly three-fifths of the total market revenue in 2020, and is projected to lead the trail by 2030. The same segment would also exhibit the fastest CAGR of 7.0% during the forecast period. Based on region, the market across North America held the major share in 2020, garnering around two-fifths of the global market. Asia-Pacific, on the other hand, would manifest the fastest CAGR of 9.2% throughout the forecast period. The key market players analysed in the global power distribution unit market report include Siemon, Leviton, Siemens, Nvent, Powertek, Eaton, Schneider, Raritan, and Vertiv group. These market players have adhered to several strategies including partnership, expansion, collaboration, joint ventures, and others to prove their flair in the industry.

GF Piping Systems' presents solutions for liquid cooling in data centres

Creating the winning formula for energy efficiency, time to market, and carbon neutrality is imperative for today's data centre solutions. At this year's Data Centre World (DCW) held in Frankfurt, from 8-9 December, GF Piping Systems will showcase how prefabrication, sustainable technologies, and engineering transform mission-critical facilities' planning, building, and cooling. The demands of higher capacity in every new data centre are increasing parallel to energy efficiency and sustainability requirements. GF Piping Systems will present its pioneering prefabrication solutions for increased project deployment quality and efficiency. Hence, the demands on the mission-critical cooling plant also increase accordingly, as 50% of the power usage and, therefore, energy costs in a data centre originate from the cooling plant. Mission-critical facility owners have a high focus to reduce these costs while reaching their common goal: the net-zero data centre. GF Piping Systems can help optimise the energy efficiency of the complete cooling plant with prefabrication, plastic piping systems, and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT). "Our engineered plastic piping solutions for cooling applications are the result of years of pioneering innovation," says Mark Bulmer, Global Market Development Data Centers. "Combined with our global network of prefabrication shops, GF Piping Systems provides owners and operators of data centres with a quicker set-up and more efficient and reliable operation during the entire service life of their projects, reducing energy usage for life." Mark Bulmer will deep-dive into 'Plastic pipes for liquid cooling' speaking at Critical Infrastructure Theatre on 8 December at 11:20 CET. Planners and installation technicians are under considerable time pressure when installing new plants and modernising existing ones. The construction sites, often located in geographically remote areas, must adhere to local regulations, including energy efficiency or water protection. Project delays often incur high contractual penalties and must, therefore, be strictly avoided. GF Piping Systems shortens the time from the planning stage to the commissioning, employing offsite prefabrication of framed modules, which are simple and easy to install on-site, which means that projects can be executed cost-efficiently and on schedule.