DATA CENTRES how energy-intensive these facilities can be ,” Chris continues . “ Recent figures have suggested that data centres across the continent are estimated to consume up to 3 % of all energy used in the EU .”
With AI and other processes continuing to gather pace , this is only likely to increase . Given the recent news that Ireland ’ s data centres have overtaken electricity use of all urban homes combined , Chris anticipates that regulations will likely become more stringent to help manage soaring power demand .
Yet changing over to sustainable energy sources will not be a quick process , which is why hired generator solutions may become a more appealing prospect over time . However , reducing carbon footprints while maintaining uptime will undoubtedly require careful planning by data centre operators , and the leveraging of supply chain expertise .
“ At Aggreko , we have been working with customers across Europe to save energy and reduce emissions through technologies in our Greener Upgrades ® portfolio . For example , I have seen data centre operators use Battery and Energy Storage Systems ( BESS ) technology in conjunction with a Stage V diesel , gas or HVO generator set to sustainably improve operational efficiency ,” Chris says .
In this instance , by reducing the amount of fuel consumed and supplying a spinning reserve of energy storage , power consumption rates can be reduced during peak usage periods . Unlike backup generators , BESS can also pick up power loads in a matter of seconds , greatly reducing the possibility of outages .
“ I ’ m also continuing to see another key reason why PPAs are under such wide consideration – they give a stable price for energy at a time of great pricing volatility across Europe ,” Chris continues . “ This cannot be underestimated , especially considering the other significant sustainability benefits PPAs can provide .”
This includes the adoption of solar as part of PPAs or other renewable sources , removing further financial barriers for facility operators looking to explore greener energy generation technologies .
“ Getting the right solution is key , which is why I would advise data centre stakeholders to engage with an energy solutions partner like Aggreko to accelerate their transition to greener operations with minimal disruption ,” says Chris . With the data centre sector now under huge pressure to reduce their energy-intensive power usage and improve overall sustainability , Chris feels that there ’ s never been a more important time to consider the use of short-term and long-term hired generator solutions .
While financial concerns such as prohibitive up-front purchasing costs may slow down the transition to new technologies , temporary solutions offer a middle ground where operators can adopt more flexible and dynamic strategies without accumulating huge costs . datacentremagazine . com 85