Unleashing the Future of Data Centres: Sustainable Strategies for Tomorrow's Challenges

When we consider the future of data centres, it's essential to focus on sustainability. Requiring massive amounts of energy in their operation and a larger than usual carbon footprint, data centres have caught the public eye due to the impacts they pose to the environment. As a point of reference, the energy used by a 40 MW hyperscale data centre is enough to power approximately 32,000 households.

A well-planned and designed data centre embodies a valuable business asset whose value and demand only increases through time. Good data centre design should not only ensure optimal power, cooling, and security systems performance and reliability, but it should also incorporate minimising operational costs and the facility’s carbon footprint and overall environmental impact. With Cloud and AI competing for data centre bandwidth, demand for data storage is ever-increasing. 

No two data centres are built alike. This is mainly attributed to the fact that ambient conditions, local regulations, building envelope, targeted facility certifications such as Uptime Tier Levels and sustainability certifications like LEED and WELL, create the uniqueness of a data centre’s overall design and the facility itself. Various efficiency metrics have been developed to measure sustainability and to put control measures to dampen the adverse environmental effects of these massive I.T. facilities. 

A mix of Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) and Carbon Usage Effectiveness (CUE) used as metrics among more than thirty others used globally, have been used with great success in many data centre facilities. Others have even gone the extra mile and have also sought LEED, WELL, BREEAM, ILFI, etc. certifications to bolster their sustainability drive.

These efforts not only brought to life state-of-the-art data centre facilities but also contributed to improving the brand and public image of companies engaged in the DC business.

Moreover, advancements in practices and technologies are also driving improvements in energy efficiency. The introduction of the micro part of PUE which is the PUE or Partial Power Usage Effectiveness that reflects the effectiveness of critical data centre design components as Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) and data centre cooling equipment is a good agile approach - building an efficient finished product from equally efficient components. The integration of renewable energy sources and the reduction of environmental impacts are in place, all while ensuring high standards of reliability and performance are achieved. 

Let's explore how these innovative solutions are influencing the construction industry.

Energy Efficiency: The Core of Modern Data Centres

Energy efficiency remains at the forefront of data centre design, crucial not just for reducing operational costs but also for enhancing sustainability. Innovations in architectural design include advanced building envelopes that significantly reduce thermal bridging and air leakage. By optimising insulation and deploying energy-efficient windows, we ensure minimal energy is wasted, thus maintaining the internal environment with less energy consumption.

Furthermore, the use of smart metering and smart building technologies allows for real-time monitoring and management of energy use. Intelligent systems can dynamically adjust lighting, heating, and cooling based on occupancy and usage, dramatically lowering unnecessary power consumption.

Likewise, measuring data centre sustainability metrics and driving energy efficiency isn’t just for hyperscale data centres. At the end of the day, data centre management needs to improve and gear towards reducing operating costs and complying with corporate and governmental sustainability initiatives. With the advent of sustainability regulatory reach expanding and concern with regards to the environmental footprint of digital infrastructure driving more regulatory oversight driven by the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), the three forms noted by Uptime Institute should be taken into consideration from RIBA Stage 1 or early planning stage of the project. 

From the perspective of timelines with the EED Reporting and compliance, Germany is due to submit its EED Report on August 15, 2024 and all other data centres in EU Member States following suit on September 15, 2024. EU will then submit its consolidated report regarding EU level KPIs and metrics in the 4th quarter of 2024 as further noted on the Uptime institute report, as of June 20, 2024.

Metec Project: Dublin Eastpoint R&D Data Centre

A great example of implementing innovative sustainable practices can be seen in the Dublin Eastpoint Data Centre Project. The 0.6MW facility is envisioned as the key R & D hub in Ireland for a leading (confidential) information technology company with operations in countries around the world. The project integrates low pPUE Mechanical CHW components, energy efficient technologies employing economisation that minimise environmental impacts as well as improve the efficiency of individual components and entire operations. Among the design challenges is that the new room must enable load variations from as low as 5% of design load to 100%. The DC environmental parameters were designed to ASHRAE TC 9.9, other ASHRAE related standards (e.g. 62.1, 90.1, 90.4, Guideline 36, etc.) and relevant EU and local codes and standards as TGD, EN 50600, and BS ISO IEC 30134.

The Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) design target is 1.3 or lower. In order to model and confirm the sufficiency of cooling loads and good air distribution; perform final overall M&E performance quality checks, heat load via IES calculations and CFD analysis were used. CFD analysis is among the key technical offerings from Metec mainly for mission-critical facilities.

The new DC operates with its dedicated CHW system consisting of high-efficiency free-cooling chillers and terminal in-row cooling units contributing to the sustainability goals of the project and the facility’s LEED Platinum status.

Metec Project: Eastpoint R&D DC for a confidential client

Revolutionising Cooling Solutions

Cooling is one of the largest energy consuming processes in any data centre. Traditional air-conditioning systems are being replaced with more sustainable alternatives like free cooling systems that utilise ambient air conditions to cool facilities, significantly reducing the reliance on mechanical cooling.

The adoption of liquid/immersion cooling and heat recovery systems represents a paradigm shift. These systems not only efficiently remove heat but also allow for the captured thermal energy to be repurposed, enhancing overall energy efficiency. For instance, excess heat from servers can be redirected to warm office spaces or even exported to local heat networks.

With the aim of breaking the ‘Very Efficient’ barrier corresponding to a metric of 1.20 PUE or better, the race is on among key DC players to determine the best composite of various technologies/equipment, materials, and better engineered design to achieve the best possible PUE while still being on track in achieving programme milestones and cost targets.

Renewable Energy Integration

The integration of renewable energy sources is now a viable and essential strategy for powering data centres. Solar photovoltaic panels and wind turbines can be installed on-site to directly supply renewable power to the facility, substantially reducing dependency on fossil fuels. Additionally, off-site generation using the same green energy sources is also a viable option if space constraint is an issue.

The industry as a whole is actively exploring the potential of battery storage systems to store excess renewable energy generated during peak production times. This stored energy can then be utilised during periods of low solar or wind activity, ensuring a constant, stable power supply that aligns with green principles.

The Path Forward

As we look to the future, the role of sustainable practices in the construction and operation of data centres will only grow in importance. By focusing on energy efficiency, innovative cooling solutions, and the integration of renewable energy, we are setting the foundation for data centres that are environmentally responsible and economically viable. We invite you to join us in this journey towards a more sustainable future.