Powering Ahead in Uncertain Times
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AUTUMN 2020 datacentre.solutions.com Powering ahead in uncertain times AI + Automationps l ArtArchitecture + Connectivityps l ArtCloud + Managed Services Colocation + Hostingps l ArtDesign + Infrastructureps l ArtEnergy Optimisation Management + Maintenance l Physical Security l Power + Cooling Editor’s ViewBy Phil Alsop Energy efficiency in the spotlight WELCOME to the autumn issue of Data Centre Solutions. I’m Happily, there are an increasing number of occasions when the delighted to say that this issue includes a major focus on a topic objectives of health and wealth do actually coincide. that, at some stage in the future, if not already, might just make In the data centre industry, the environmental debate has the current chaos surrounding the coronavirus pandemic seem reached an interesting moment. little more than a minor inconvenience. And that topic? The environment. An issue as divisive as Covid-19 for sure, when Many, if not all, data centre owners and operators have worked it comes to what action to take (or not), but one that is likely to towards improving the energy efficiency and/or reducing the remain centre stage for as long as humans remain on earth. carbon footprint of their facilities. Initiatives such as PUE and carbon offsetting have proved valuable in this regard. In the green corner, we have the folk who are telling us we are already too late to reverse the massive environmental changes However, there is the opportunity, if not an imperative, to take which are damaging our planet and which will eventually lead energy efficiency to the next level within the data centre – what to some kind of natural world Armageddon. I’m not sure what we might call Energy Efficiency 2.0. Innovative technologies colour we should give to the opposite corner, but that’s a space and approaches offer the potential of significant environmental filled with the sceptics and climate change deniers, who point to and accompanying financial rewards. These include: the millions of years of environmental volatility experienced by Demand response; Waste heat re-use; Renewable energy; our planet, suggesting that what we are experiencing is no more Decarbonisation; Microgrids/off-grid power; Liquid cooling; or less than yet one more period of extreme conditions, and we Data lifecycle management. need to wait a few hundred thousand years before we can call it a significant trend. In this issue, we take a look at the topic of energy efficiency in detail, with a major focus on the potential of liquid cooling. There seems to be a general consensus that we would do well We’re also covering AI and automation, a not unrelated subject to work on the assumption that human behaviour and climate as it promises levels of operational accuracy and efficiency change are not unrelated topics, but beyond this, as with the which can contribute to the overall energy efficiency of the data coronavirus, there is massive tension between what is seen as centre. a straight choice between health and wealth. Green the planet at a massive financial cost to us all; ignore environmental issues I hope you enjoy reading the magazine, and we’re always for the pursuit of business and wealth, and activate a ticking grateful for feedback – whether brief comments or maybe you environmental time bomb. will be inspired to contribute content for a future issue. Editor Philip Alsop +44 (0)7786 084559 [email protected] Circulation & Subscriptions +44 (0)2476 718970 [email protected] Sales Manager Peter Davies +44 (0)2476 718970 [email protected] Directors Stephen Whitehurst – CEO Sales Manager Scott Adams – Joint - Managing Director Jessica Harrison +44 (0)2476 718970 [email protected] Sukhi Bhadal – Joint - Managing Director Director of Logistics Published by: Sharon Cowley +44 (0)1923 690200 [email protected] Angel Business Communications Ltd, 6 Bow Court, Burnsall Road, Coventry CV5 6SP T: +44 (0)2476 718970 E: [email protected] Design & Production Manager Mitch Gaynor +44 (0)1923 690214 [email protected] Publisher Jackie Cannon +44 (0)1923 690215 [email protected] Datacentre Solutions is published 4 times a year on a controlled circulation basis in Europe, Middle East and Africa only. Subscription rates on request. All information herein is believed to be correct at time of going to press. The publisher does not accept responsibility for any errors and omissions. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every effort has been made to obtain copyright permission for the material contained in this publication. Angel Business Communications Ltd will be happy to acknowledge any copyright oversights in a subsequent issue of the publication. Angel Business Communications Ltd. © Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced in whole or part without the written consent of the publishers. The paper used within this magazine is produced by chain of custody certified manufacturers, guaranteeing sustainable sourcing. ISSN 2396-9016 (Online) COPYRIGHT DATACENTRE SOLUTIONS l AUTUMN 2020 l WWW.DATACENTRE.SOLUTIONS.COM 3 Contents AUTUMN 2020 42 COVER STORY Powering ahead in uncertain times Riello UPS Business Development Manager Chris Cutler explores how advances in UPS technology can help data centre operators optimise their energy efficiency as they adjust to the “new normal” of growing demand. WORLD NEWS 06 Cloud can reduce carbon emissions 16 Digital transformation in the hosting sector 07 Organisations face difficulties securing 18 Why 5G can’t come soon enough for many budget for IT resilience operators 08 CATALYST Project releases CATALYST 20 Driving edge resilience with AI, machine Green Data Centre Roadmap website learning and digital services 09 NaaS growth predicted for EMEA ENERGY EFFICIENCY ANALYST 26 Energy optimisation and the path to good 10 Top 25 metros generate 65% of colo revenue grid citizenship 30 Underwater data centres are reliable, AI + AUTOMATION practical and use energy sustainably 12 How will AI advance the data centre industry? 34 Fuelling the green data centre revolution 14 Automation and intelligence: maximising 36 Going green: powering the future of energy your data centre’s efficiency efficient data centres 38 Connecting the world’s greenest data centre 42 Powering ahead in uncertain times 46 Why efficiency matters in the modern data centre 48 High-quality variable-speed pumps key to improving energy and water usage in data centres 50 How advanced UPS technologies are turning data centres from energy villains to heroes 12 54 A new era for the data centre has arrived 4 WWW.DATACENTRE.SOLUTIONS.COM l AUTUMN 2020 l COPYRIGHT DATACENTRE SOLUTIONS 54 LIQUID COOLING NEWS 82 Schneider Eectric Q&A 58 Data centre liquid cooling market worth over 86 Submer profile: Smart and sustainable $3bn by 2026 solutions for data centres that make sense 88 Q & A with Submer LIQUID COOLING 92 What is Liquid cooling? 60 3M - Novec profile 94 Vertiv Q & A 62 Two-phase immersion cooling: The essential facts DCA NEWS 64 Asperitas – profile 96 Conquering the next challenge for colocation 65 Liquid cooling Q & A with Asperitas providers: Speed 68 Five delicious flavours of liquid cooling for 98 The importance of choosing the right battery data centres? for Uninterruptible Power Supplies 70 Liquid Cooling Q&A with Gerard Thibault, 102 Smart cities and urban data centres – a CTO, Kao Data digital marriage for future connectivity 74 Midas Green Technology – profile 104 Maintaining the Edge... 75 Midas Green Technology Q and A 107 I am confused, virtually… 77 Rittal - profile 78 IT Cooling: Look beyond the norm for true innovation... 92 102 COPYRIGHT DATACENTRE SOLUTIONS l AUTUMN 2020 l WWW.DATACENTRE.SOLUTIONS.COM 5 NEWS Cloud can reduce carbon emissions COMPANIES are unlocking greater technologies like cloud as critical factors “Companies are rapidly moving to financial, societal and environmental for accelerating change and making their the cloud for innovation and cost- benefits by moving to the cloud and commitments a reality. savings, and sustainability must also be developing associated circular products considered as a primary driver,” said and services. “Sustainable cloud can deliver a Paul Daugherty, group chief executive – double helix effect of shareholder and Technology and chief technology officer Migration to the public cloud can achieve stakeholder value by simultaneously for Accenture. “However, there is no one- significant carbon reduction in the form reducing costs and carbon emissions,” size-fits-all approach to sustainable cloud of a 5.9% decrease in total IT emissions said Peter Lacy, a senior managing journeys — companies must understand or nearly 60 million tons of CO2 globally director and global sustainability lead at the migration, design, and engineering per year, which is the equivalent of taking Accenture. “Further, the magnitude of decisions that will directly determine how 22 million cars off the road, according to carbon reduction achieved through cloud sustainable their solutions are and the new research from Accenture. migrations can go a long way in meeting benefits they drive.” climate change commitments and driving Informed by proprietary Accenture new levels of innovation, ultimately When it comes to cloud optimisation, the analysis based on its experience leading to a greener balance sheet and a report outlines three ambition levels in supporting sustainable cloud migrations greener planet.” the cloud first sustainability journey: for hundreds of clients globally, the strategic migrations without major report – The Green Behind the Cloud – Adding to the significant environmental redesign, application of sustainable outlines how companies can achieve the impact, sustainable cloud solutions software engineering practices, most value from environmentally-friendly deliver key financial benefits. Accenture’s and application optimisation for the use and operation of cloud services, analysis, based on its work with clients, “fabric of the cloud.” regardless of where they are on their shows up to 30-40% total cost of cloud journey.