NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 22, 2024 / Eaton:
Karina Rigby, President, Electrical, Critical Systems, Eaton, EMEA
Data centers have a reputation for being unfriendly to the environment, but in reality they will be a force for change in the race to a more sustainable future. Learn how they’re helping realize a new power paradigm based on clean energy and how Eaton is supporting them.
Written by Dr. Karina Rigby, March 4, 2024
Data centers are coming under increased scrutiny in the drive towards net zero. Although these facilities have a reputation for being energy-hogging sources of carbon dioxide and have attracted the attention of environmental groups and governments, they actually play an important role in the Green Revolution.
of world economic forum suggests that around 60% of the world’s gross domestic product is now digitized in some form, placing data centers firmly at the center of economic growth for the foreseeable future. As unstoppable digitalization accelerates around the world, there are as many data centers planned today as there are already, and that’s before powerful trends such as: artificial intelligence It completely impacted the market. In fact, entire regions like the Middle East are starting to refocus from oil-based economies to digital-based ones, and this can only be a good thing.
But while data centers are essential to economic prosperity, they are also often seen as digitalization’s dirty secret.Headline claiming data center Airlines causing air pollution Many leaders are concerned about the dramatic increase in their numbers because they are easy to spot. But is this environmentally unfriendly reputation fair?
Considering about 1.5% As global energy consumption increases, data centers have long strived to increase efficiency and reduce emissions. This is proof that these efforts were successful. IEA reportdata center emissions “Despite the rapid rise in demand for digital services, growth remains modest.”
From our conversations with customers, sustainability is now one of the core imperatives for data center operators, along with speed and cost. We offer a wide range of products and services to support this drive, including optimizing energy efficiency and enabling local renewable power generation.
New technology trends will only accelerate this process. for example, Hydrogen instead of diesel For backup power or for more efficient functionality cooling. In the coming years, these innovations will further reduce data center costs, energy consumption, and carbon emissions.
But such green operations are just the beginning of data center sustainability efforts. Our market position makes us ideally positioned to explore the entire energy ecosystem, creating a symbiotic relationship between data centers, utilities and grid operators that benefits everyone. It is becoming increasingly clear that this is happening.
It is becoming increasingly clear that a symbiotic relationship is emerging between data centers, power companies, and grid operators that benefits everyone.
carina rigby President of Critical Systems, EMEA Electrical Division
The rise of energy consumers
Gone are the old days of top-down power generation, transmission, and distribution. Grids have become highly complex, requiring greater flexibility and intelligence. Power no longer just flows in one direction to grid-connected assets, but is now moving back and forth within a more decentralized ecosystem.
Conference likely to take place as utilities bring more and more renewable generation online 60% of Europe’s total electricity demand by 2030-Power grid instability is a pressing issue. The sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow, but expecting power companies and governments to build large amounts of backup generation to keep the grid balanced is especially important for industrial is not financially viable as energy demand is increasing rapidly with the growth of The electrification and electric vehicle revolution is accelerating.
The answer lies in increased demand-side flexibility, driven by a new breed of energy consumer groups with the ability to generate electricity locally, store it, and feed it back to the grid. Data centers are uniquely positioned to benefit from this trend. Each facility is already equipped with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that allows them to continue normal operations even in the event of a power outage. With the right infrastructure and intelligent management capabilities, these battery backup systems can return energy to the grid to balance demand and provide the flexibility essential to the renewable revolution.
For utilities and grid operators, this two-way power flow with energy consumers helps address flexibility challenges while providing a route to harnessing more renewable energy. . Similarly, data center operators who already prioritize optimal grid access can monetize underutilized assets, create new revenue streams, and strengthen their net zero credentials.
Recognition of this symbiotic win-win is rapidly growing. We are proud to help energy consumers become energy prosumers through our medium and low voltage solutions, battery technologies, digital grid balancing capabilities, consulting services, etc., and embrace this energy for customers from all sides. . For example, we are already working with major hyperscale and colocation data center players to achieve grid stabilization through our UPS systems. conscious of energy Solved.
Expecting power companies and governments to build large amounts of backup generation to balance the grid is not financially viable.
carina rigby President of Critical Systems, EMEA Electrical Division
Fostering a new energy ecosystem
From conversations with customers and partners in the field, it is clear that a combination of powerful trends is driving the development of a new energy ecosystem in which data centers play a key role.
All of these trends are moving at slightly different speeds: the rapid growth of digitalization, the energy transition to renewables, increasing data center sustainability, increasing grid complexity, and the need for intelligent power management. However, they are all moving in the same direction. direction.
The economic background is strong. The sustainability argument is persuasive. And the necessary technology is coming online. He is now one of the important issues of culture. Grid operators and data center energy consumers need to be on the same page, with more and more organizations seeking to understand how they can support the net-zero competitive landscape, which is steadily increasing. It’s happening.
Governments have a key role to play here in setting the right policy frameworks and financial incentives to drive cultural change. Demand-side companies have not traditionally been involved in the power grid, so policymakers need to encourage data center operators to sell flexible services. That means building the business case, clarifying the current rules and making participation easier with advancements like smart billing.laws like REPowerEU This is a good step that will help bring different market players together to accelerate the clean energy revolution.
Now is the time for everyone in this ecosystem to collaborate, break down silos, learn, and share best practices to move things forward. Most importantly, we need to advance the conversation about the environmental impact of data centers and shed their reputation as high carbon. Data centers don’t stand in the way of a sustainable future. In fact, data centers are helping us get there faster.
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