Peter Gross on the need for new storage solutions
Sarah Davey on getting proactive when it comes to climate change
T
for a zero carbon or even a
T
negative carbon goal.
connectivity, regulatory bodies
here is no question
he demands of
that data center
the data center
operators will
industry are growing
continue their quest
exponentially. As
the world needs more reliable
The significant transition
are quickly gaining awareness
we’ll start seeing in the
of the required energy
near future is the shift from
increases and therefore the
acquiring renewable energy
environmental impacts.
credits through PPA contracts,
While awareness of the
to the use of microgrids where
climate emergency is growing
renewable sources are directly connected and physically located near the data centers. The question is, how long before today’s model, where the
in both the general population and government level, it is essential and inevitable that highimpact industries such as data center design shoulder their share of
renewable source is only supplementing the grid power, is replaced
responsibility. Policy-makers who have historically provided building
by an integrated, self-contained, off-grid solution? The answer lies
incentives such as carbon tax exemptions and reduced electricity
in the speed of developing reliable, economical, practical energy
prices may soon feel increased accountability for the current climate
storage solutions.
crisis.
It is questionable whether the lithium-ion batteries widely
The data center industry is aware of the coming challenge. It
used today will be able to achieve these objectives, especially at
is strategically building in low ambient locations, exploring the
GWhrs scale. More promising are some of the many competing
use of natural gas or fuel cells and deploying hyperscale models,
technologies at various stages of development, such as Liquid
which maximize large scale and high efficiencies that reduce
Metal Batteries, Glass Batteries, High Temperature Energy Storage
environmental impact.
(HTES) or Isothermal Compressed Air Energy Storage (ICAES). A
Challenges remain, however, with intensive energy requirements
lot of excitement is generated by graphene technology that has the
for cooling systems, privacy laws requiring domestically-hosted
potential of converging supercapacitors and battery features, thus not
data in hot climates, high demands on current renewables from
only addressing the cost, energy density and cycling requirements,
competing technologies and even potential reductions on the
but also power density and safety concerns.
industry footprint to ensure improved efficiency.
Another concept that will evolve into a practical solution is the use
I would like to see the industry begin to increase the amount of
of renewables to produce hydrogen, which in turn is delivered and
accountability and legislation enforcements. These may be in the
stored at the data center for use with fuel cells. The use of fuel cells
form of proactively complying with environmental directives or a
powered by biogas or even by methane, if the carbon dioxide capture
reduction in climate change agreements. I believe the industry will
or sequestration becomes practical, will provide viable alternatives.
see a challenge with the use of water for cooling which presents an interesting predicament for more sustainable options, and it will see
"How long before the model where the renewable source is only supplementing the grid power, is replaced by an integrated, selfcontained, off-grid solution?” Peter Gross is a board member, investor, consultant, and corporate advisor. Previously at Bloom Energy, he is now on the board of
an obligation to shape and influence national infrastructure for a more justifiable solution. It’s an interesting predicament for more sustainable options, and it will see an obligation to shape and influence national infrastructure for a more justifiable solution.
"Policy-makers who have historically provided building incentives such as carbon tax exemptions and reduced electricity prices may soon"
Virtual Power Systems Sarah Davey is a mechanical engineer at global engineering power house Arup. She has been working on data center projects for four years and recently won Mission Critical Engineer of the Year at the DCD Awards 2019