Danel Turk, ABB’s Data Centres Portfolio Manager, explains how data centres can be both efficient and online 24/7 in the wake of UK’s planned grid upgrades and the growing power-hungriness of AI.
Data centres are growing in size and energy consumption, with some facilities using as much energy as a small town. Accelerating reliance on AI adds even more pressure, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicting that global data centre electricity consumption will reach 1000TWh by 2026 – equivalent to Japan’s annual electricity usage.
As these hubs expand, so do the challenges of managing their operations efficiently and reliably. The financial stakes are high, with even brief periods of downtime prohibitively expensive. According to the Uptime Institute’s Annual Outages Analysis 2023, 70% of events causing data centre downtime cost $100,000 or more, with 25% costing more than $1 million. Consequently, data centre operators must maximise energy efficiency while ensuring uninterrupted 24/7 service to remain competitive, profitable and scalable.
The UK’s rollout of the Great Grid Upgrade represents a crucial step towards achieving net zero carbon emissions by boosting the country’s capacity to distribute clean energy. However, this transition poses a further challenge for local data centre operators. While the upgrade is underway, they must protect their power against outages, power quality fluctuations, intermittency associated with renewable sources.
This begs the question: Is net zero even possible with these demands, and can it be reached safely? The answer is yes, provided data centres employ Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems to protect them from any side effects that the much-need grid overhaul will cause. And, ironically, they must also take advantage of AI itself.
Power continuity is key
Forward-looking data centres deploy high-power UPS systems to bridge the power gap from the utility companies. A UPS constantly monitors the energy flow from the grid to a data centre. Should there be a voltage dip, surge or outage, the UPS instantly responds by adjusting the voltage via its converters or tapping into an energy storage system such as a battery. This process ensures data centres receive stable, uninterrupted power, safeguarding them against power quality events.
A modular approach is highly effective in a UPS setup. Some data centres still use traditional monolithic UPS systems, which integrate all components into single units. These configurations cannot be resized without replacing the entire system or adding another UPS. Conversely, modular UPS systems comprise smaller, interchangeable and autonomous units that operate together within a single frame.
While monolithic UPS systems usually have a lower initial cost than their modular counterparts of the same capacity, the total cost of ownership (TCO) and availability of modular systems tend to be superior. This is because modular UPS systems provide built-in redundancy – operators can add an extra module instead of replacing or adding an entire monolithic block.
For example, to achieve redundancy in a 1 MW capacity data centre, opting for a 1.5 MW modular UPS to achieve N+2 redundancy saves 30% in costs compared to N+N redundancy with two 1 MW monolithic blocks. This approach also results in a lighter UPS system that is easier to install on raised floors or rooftops.
Additionally, modular setups reduce the need for additional power infrastructure, such as cables and switchgear. In the scenario with two parallel monolithic UPS systems, you would need two input switches and two output switches, whereas a modular system only requires one for input and one for output.
Additionally, modular UPS systems are more energy efficient. In times of low demand, modern modular systems can automatically put unused modules into sleep or economy mode, reducing energy consumption.
Consider a medium-voltage UPS
As data centres continue to expand in size and power consumption, medium-voltage (MV) equipment is becoming increasingly viable and cost-effective. A medium-voltage UPS offers comprehensive power protection for the entire data centre, not just rack protection like low-voltage (LV) UPS units do. MV systems also provide significant energy-efficiency improvements, leading to long-term cost savings and a more favourable TCO.
The modular nature of MV UPS installations is another key advantage, reducing reliance on multiple LV UPSs that require frequent maintenance. This modularity allows for easy expansion of power capacity without adding complexity to the system. For example, you can connect ten 2.5 MW UPS blocks in parallel to create a 25 MW system, facilitating rapid deployment of additional units as needed.
Furthermore, the lower currents at MV levels require smaller cross-section cables. This characteristic reduces initial installation costs while improving TCO. Relying on a single UPS also means fewer points of error, reducing the risk of costly downtime.
Embrace AI
While artificial intelligence drives up power demand in data centres, it also offers potential solutions for managing this increased energy consumption. Data centre operators can leverage AI to optimise cooling systems, predictive condition-based maintenance, data handling, and demand balancing.
Connectivity is critical in this aspect. An AI-driven automation system can monitor numerous data points across a medium to large-scale data centre, providing operators with real-time insights into performance, energy usage, and equipment health.
These insights enable operators to make targeted efficiency improvements. For example, in cooling systems, where components are often managed separately, an AI-powered automation system can expose the interdependencies between different parts. This holistic view allows operators to make informed decisions that improve the entire system’s efficiency, rather than optimising individual components at the expense of others.
Balancing power demands with sustainability
As AI and digital services proliferate, implementing these practices will become increasingly critical. UK data centre operators can effectively address escalating energy requirements while adhering to sustainability goals and optimising costs. By leveraging high-power UPS systems, AI-driven automation, and advanced connectivity, they can gain comprehensive insights into their facilities’ performance and make informed decisions to optimise efficiency.
Ultimately, these approaches will play a crucial role in ensuring that data centres contribute positively to the global energy ecosystem, balancing technological advancement with environmental stewardship and economic viability.
