Seems like never a day goes by on LinkedIn without someone having a subtle go at hashtag#datacentres power usage. Usually a cooling vendor or someone with a DCIM or renewable energy procurement solution.
Notwithstanding this, the energy efficiency of datacentres is imperative, as their substantial and expanding hashtag#energy consumption has widespread environmental impacts. Comprehensive strategies encompassing IT equipment, software, facilities, cooling, and more are crucial to mitigate emissions. According to 2022 Best Practice Guidelines for the EU Code of Conduct on Data Centre Energy Efficiency Version 14.0.0 key focus areas for enhancement are:
IT Hardware Acquisition
When procuring new IT hardware such as servers, prioritize energy efficiency alongside performance as primary selection criteria. The ISO 30134-4:2017 standard (ITEEsv metric) and EU Lot 9 EcoDesign directives provide valuable benchmarks. Mandate vendors disclose power usage across workloads and inlet temperatures. Virtualization-ready, power management-enabled equipment enables major efficiency gains. 
Software and Service Design
Inefficient software necessitates overprovisioning of hardware, amplifying energy utilization. Consider energy repercussions in the software development process per ISO/IEC 21836 (SEEM), incentivize developers for efficiency enhancements. Consolidate services onto highest utilization platforms. Enforce approvals to avert resource-intensive siloed systems.
Data Center Construction
Leverage economizer and free cooling per ISO 30131 to maximize exploitation of external air. Guarantee adequate floor to ceiling height for hot aisle containment. Room and row based cooling units improve granularity. Create separate zones to accommodate legacy equipment without compromising newer equipment parameters.
Cooling Systems
The 2nd edition of EN 50600-5-1 when published later in 2023 will be an authoritative source on data center cooling and free cooling strategies, and aligns with ISO 30131. Choose highest efficiency chillers, optimize delta T. Modulate fans via variable speed drives, parallel operation. Elevate and expand temperature and humidity set points within ASHRAE/ETSI recommended ranges. Segregate legacy equipment. Maximize free cooling hours, minimize compressor runtimes.
Data Center Administration
Continuous optimization is imperative. Adhere to ISO 50001 energy management guidelines. Measure and document Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) as per ISO 30134-2. Monitor IT energy consumption and inlet temperatures. Decommission unused devices. Retire low utilization platforms. Unify IT and facilities monitoring.
Looking ahead, prioritize holistic data center sustainability across energy, water, and materials. Refine software efficiency quantification to properly motivate lean engineering. Support renewable energy procurement. Transition to cloud, hyperscale architectures and/or innovation colocation providers for efficiency at scale. Promote heat reuse and waste heat capture readiness. Invest in R&D across devices, architectures, cooling, and more. Data centers can catalyze energy innovation.
Site Selection – The Biggest Efficiency Win?
The other massive piece of the puzzle is site selection. While data centers require massive amounts of electricity, placing them near low-carbon sources like renewables could significantly mitigate their emissions impact. Rather than view data centers as inherently negative polluters, we should see them as flexible assets to support decarbonization.
Data centers can be positioned where cleaner grids allow them to tap into abundant solar, wind, hydro or other renewable generation. Building near renewables avoids transmission losses moving electricity long distances and takes advantage of when these variable sources are most productive. Intelligently sited data centers become ideal flexible loads to soak up renewable glut.
Furthermore, onsite or directly-contracted renewable energy is far cleaner than claiming credits from distant projects. Data centers locating right at solar or wind farms guarantee maximum emissions reductions.
Critically examining data center placement, shifting infrastructure investment to where renewables are most plentiful, and tight integration with clean generation offers a major opportunity. Rather than focus solely on data center power usage, we can view them as potential anchors for growing our renewable energy infrastructure in key regions. With the right grid placement, data centers can transition from emissions problem to enabler of the solution.
