FEATURE
stadium. But the other way around is also
possible: temporary energy storage in the
batteries of these cars. Peak shaving is
also possible. Depending on supply and
demand, peaks and troughs in energy
consumption can be absorbed by using
energy from the batteries.
Another remarkable application: backup
power during events.
Many major artists who give concerts in
venues such as the Amsterdam Arena
generally do not rely on the backup energy
supply in the venues where they perform.
In too many places there are problems
with the quality and robustness of the
network, in their experience.
They prefer to bring their own diesel
generators to ensure uninterrupted power
supply during their events. With all the
extra costs that entails, of course. In
the case of the arena, this is no longer
necessary as these artists can now call on
the battery storage.
Future for data centres
With this energy storage system, the
Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam is an
interesting example of what might be the
future of many data centres.
European projects such as EV Energy and
CATALYST are working hard to enable the
integration of data centres and smart grids.
BECAUSE DATA
CENTRES MAY
INVEST MORE
IN RENEWABLE
ENERGY
GENERATION,
THEY MAY ALSO
BE ABLE TO
SUPPLY ENERGY
TO THE NETWORK.
38
Issue 05
Batteries and UPS systems at the data
centre are connected to the grid via
smart management software. The
advantages for grid operators are then,
of course, clear. Provided this is done on the basis of
sound agreements, new turnover will
be generated. Initially of course modest
in size, but at the same time with a
relatively high margin.
As with the Amsterdam Arena, they can
then use the storage capacity of a data
centre – the batteries installed there – to
help keep the network stable. Because
data centres may invest more in renewable
energy generation, they may also be able to
supply energy to the network. Peak shaving
and a better organised form of backup
power is also possible. Financial possibilities
Of course, this also creates interesting
opportunities for data centres. Until now,
they function on the basis of a business
model that has only one financial pillar:
selling space for processing data.
Especially in many commercial data
centres we see that the margins on
projects of this kind tend to decline:
the projects are getting bigger, but the
margins are getting smaller. However, an
integration of the data centre and smart
grid makes it possible – what we will just
call – to put ‘grid services’ as a second
financial pillar under the business model
of a data centre.
The same applies, of course, to data
centres that in the future want to supply
residual heat to customers for a fee.
These transactions will also have a
relatively high margin and can therefore
make an interesting financial contribution
to the operation of data centres.
The project on battery storage in the
Johan Cruyff Arena could very well serve
as an example to the data centre industry.
Although at the moment the storage
capacity at the stadium is not yet sufficient
to supply energy to external customers,
this project does show that developing and
delivering energy services offers interesting
opportunities to data centres.
The energy transition facing the data
centre and ICT sector could thus offer
unexpectedly great opportunities – not in
the least financially. ◊
www.intelligentdatacentres.com