E X P E R T O P I N I O N
For years , generators have been considered a necessity for all data centre builds . In truth , they may be causing more of a problem than they are worth . Traditional data centre design has required all newly built data centres to ensure the site ’ s full load can be backed up with total generator capacity . This may not be the case for every site .
In fact , Uptime Institute , an unbiased advisory which details technical requirements for resiliency tiers of data centres to improve the performance of business-critical infrastructure , highlights that on-site power production should be considered the primary power source .
They state local utility power should only be used as an economical alternative .
With this requirement , many operators believe they need full generator backup , leading them to ignore sites that can ’ t provide this . This thinking hurts the company ’ s bottom line and heavily impacts its sustainability targets .
For the industry to achieve net zero carbon in data centres , operators need to move away from this outdated view of data centres . They should instead consider whether complete or partial generator backup is required based on the specifications of their individual project rather than the status quo .
Voltage needs for data centres
The scale of data centre campuses is increasing , especially as Machine
Learning becomes a key focus for colocation providers and technology companies . This requires developing hyperscale campuses that connect to the grid at higher voltage levels . However , the increased requirements significantly impact the reliability of data centres . Understanding the difference between distribution networks and transmission networks becomes vital , as distribution networks typically operate at 11-33kV , whilst transmission networks operate at voltages of 132kW and even higher .
As engineers will tell you , adopting an analytical approach to design is necessary . Data centre developers should also adopt this approach to assess their system ’ s reliability and performance of substations . This is necessary to determine the need for total generator backup capacity .
The data centre industry typically uses a standard of ‘ 5 9s ’ availability . This means that there needs to be 99.999 % uptime or availability . It ’ s a useful measure to manage risk attributed to failures in a system . Despite this , for sites connecting to the grid at 132kV +, generators often yield very small benefits . Many sites can achieve ‘ 5 9s ’ without any generators at all .
The use of generators also introduces additional costs – both financial and environmental . This cost is predominantly due to the embodied carbon from equipment production and emissions during routine testing . At Cundall , we have seen the effects of this with data centres with over 50 generators running idle outside of maintenance and testing . We have also seen sites achieve ‘ 5 9s ’ without a single generator on the campus .
Switching on to a change mindset
The first step on the pathway of change is a change of mindset . As an industry , we need to dispel the myth that backup generators are a total necessity . This belief is what is causing tenants to include them in their mandatory leasing requirements . Backup generators are only a ‘ necessity ’ because people think they are .
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