Beyond regulations: energy efficiency in data centres for operational continuity

When was the last time that you saw or visited a data centre? Unless you work in IT, I’m thinking the likely answer is ‘never’. In fact, while most of us know data centres exist, and probably live or work relatively close to one, we would struggle to point out where they are or exactly what it is they do.

If data is the lifeblood of modern business and society, informing virtually every decision we make daily as companies and consumers, then data centres are the pumping heart of the new, cloud-based global economy. They host the core IT infrastructure that supports all that digital activity – and working 24/7-365 behind the scenes to ensure that information is stored, shared, and managed.

Every time you send an email, buy something online or save something to the cloud, you have data centres to thank – and as our appetite for data increases, driven by increasing cloud adoption and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), big data and blockchain – so our dependence on them increases.

Increasing energy-savings potential

This dependence comes at a cost, however. Data centres require vast amounts of energy to run IT equipment such as servers, which in turn need power to keep cool enough to function reliably. As such, energy is often the largest single operating cost in such facilities, meaning that they have a significant impact on overall electricity consumption as well as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In 2022, global data centre electricity consumption was an estimated 240-340 TWh, or around 1–1.3 percent of final electricity demand¹, and that figure is set to more than double by 2026. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that data centres and transmission networks are responsible for one percent of energy-related GHG emissions².

According to the European Energy Directive (EED), the ICT sector as a whole is responsible for around 5–9 percent of the world’s total electricity use. Under the revised EED (discussed more fully in the next section) large enterprises that operate data centres must conduct energy audits at least once every four years or implement energy management systems (EMSs) under the ISO 50001 standard.

Technology innovations such as waste heat utilisation and energy management systems mean there are a lot of potential energy savings that operators can benefit from – in addition to enhanced operational continuity and efficiency.

Energy monitoring and KPI reporting in data centres

The EED and the importance of energy management systems

Enterprises with EMSs must report on their energy savings achieved in terms of primary energy consumption or final energy consumption (as defined by the EED). Data centres are required to report annual energy consumption, energy efficiency measures, and key performance indicators (KPIs) like power and water usage effectiveness.

In summary, the focus of the EED is on final consumption in the data centre server rooms:

• The revised EED includes new provisions aimed at encouraging best practices in energy efficiency and reducing final energy consumption in data centres. This includes promoting energy-efficient equipment and practices in both data centre design and operations, as well as the use of energy-efficient cooling systems and software tools for monitoring and managing energy consumption.
• The EED places a renewed emphasis on reducing final energy consumption as a key element in achieving the EU’s ambitious climate targets.

ABB’s InSite system: the smart solution for EED compliance

So, how can we at ABB help data facilities fulfil EED reporting requirements?

ABB’s InSite energy management system is designed to provide reliable and efficient monitoring and control of sub and final energy distribution. The user-friendly interface and customisable dashboard give operators access to real-time data updated every second to properly serve critical power applications and set notifications and alarms, helping them comply with the reporting requirements of the EED.

This increased transparency also enables data centre personnel to identify and address malfunctioning equipment, or critical energy or temperature thresholds being reached before they have a serious impact on operations. Leveraging this real-time data, inefficient backup power or cooling systems such as uninterruptible power supplies and unused lighting can also be identified.

The InSite system is modular, scalable, and flexible, making it the ‘smart’ solution in data centre server rooms that have different configurations such as IT Busways or Remote Power Panels (RPPs).

Compliant with the common data centre infrastructure management systems, InSite delivers data in a secure, reliable manner in line with industry standard EED reporting requirements. The solution is cyber security certified by ABB’s Device Security Assurance Centre (DSAC), and features communications protocols for data centres like simple network management protocol (SNMP).

Smart server room – InSite dashboard

Operational continuity and reliability at the core

As any data centre operator will tell you, operational continuity and uninterrupted power supply are crucial, as any disruption can have significant consequences, including financial losses and even legal liabilities.

Continuous operation, reliability, and safety are provided by the SMISSLINE TP plug-in distribution system, which is the world’s first plug-in socket system that allows expansions and upgrades without downtime as devices and components to be easily snapped on and off under voltage, without the need for additional personal protective equipment to guard against electrical shock. SMISSLINE TP’s is designed to fit any measurement and space requirements and can be mounted horizontally or vertically, resulting in space savings of up to 20 percent. The integration of smart capabilities can also be achieved with minimal to no downtime, as the InSite system can be easily integrated, and its branch monitoring sensors can be effortlessly attached to existing devices and cables.

If you’re planning to implement such kind of solution, check out ABB’s Server Room Sub-Distribution Configurator which helps you design the most suitable product combinations and generate a list of all required bill of materials (BOM) components. Whether it’s an IT Busway or Remote Power Panel, IEC or UL with a constant focus on energy density, complete your 3D configuration in less than 10 minutes: Click here

Transparency and resilience

It is in all our interests to ensure that data centres remain operational and provide uninterrupted services to the businesses, individuals, and communities that rely on them.

As data centres increase in complexity and scale, the demand for monitoring and managing energy consumption and power quality goes beyond basic reporting requirements and regulations. Leveraging real-time data, alerts, and analytics allows for the early detection and resolution of issues, enhancing operational continuity. Systems like InSite provide transparency that helps eliminate inefficiencies and optimise energy flows, paving the way for a more efficient, sustainable, and resilient future for data centre operations.

[1, 2] https://www.iea.org/energy-system/buildings/data-centres-and-data-transmission-networks