D A T A C E N T R E P R E D I C T I O N S
Rees Westley , RLB Partner
Therefore , industry stakeholders must look ahead to ensure that sustainable energy sources such as wind and nuclear are not only reliable but also accelerated in their deployment . This might involve initiatives like enhancing wind power reliability and expediting the adoption of nuclear small modular reactors .
When an application for power is made this will typically be offered from a surplus on the network or will trigger a requirement for reinforcement measures . This type of reinforcement can occur locally to a site or all the way back to a Grid Supply Point , which can often culminate in extensive expansion of a distribution network . In the instance of a data centre development , these works may provide capacity for a single facility whilst congesting the distribution network and preventing other developers from accessing the system .
As data centres and technical hubs have grown in capacity , and with the advancement of technologies like AI , so has the power infrastructure required to support the developments – and we are now typically seeing connections from the distribution system at medium voltage ( MV ) and high voltage ( HV ).
This is again causing development congestion on the distribution networks but at much higher voltages . Taking connections at the higher distribution levels and from the transmission network will be much more conducive to supporting residential and smaller commercial development it will also alleviate development congestion on the secondary electrical networks .
Sustainability measures
The UK ’ s commitment to energy security , as outlined by the British energy security strategy introduced in 2020 , looked to make the UK ‘ energy independent ’ moving its reliance from fossil fuels to alternative energy supplies such as wind , solar and nuclear . This has been echoed by the new Labour government with a commitment to double onshore wind , triple solar power and quadruple offshore wind , ensuring clean power by 2030 . With over 60 elections globally , we know that sustainability will remain a top priority for any government in power .
Data centre developers and operators need to be far more accountable for the impact that they are having on both communities and the environment . Decentralised energy systems have been described as being pivotal to ensuring a robust , secure and sustainable energy future .
Regulation and self-regulation ( mandated targets ) are required to ensure accountability . Developers should be investing in decentralised energy systems , offsetting pure demand requirements and providing solutions for a fair and more sustainable future . Investment into sustainably generated power projects must align with the development of demand facilities .
In conclusion
With operators expected to commission 65 % more data centre capacity in 2024 , the race to secure energy will gather pace .
Understanding how we source the energy required for this growth , work within governance and meet sustainability targets will be key to success and allow us to advance at the pace required for modern-day requirements . �
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