4
COMMENT
Is the tide turning for DSR? After returning from a visit to Data Centre World this week, I have a sense that attitudes to demandside response among critical sites are starting to change. Having spoken to a fair few data centres in the past year, the main concern raised has been that of risk. While aggregators and companies involved with DSR have sought to allay these fears, ultimately, data centres have been resistant to the idea. But this may be starting to change. I am starting to see some data centre operators warming to the prospect, although it is still early days. Eaton presented a case study at Data Centre World involving Webaxys, a hosting company and telecom operator located in Normandy, France. The data centre is engaging with DSR using UPS and battery storage as part of a wider strategy to power the site with green energy. It is rare for data centres to talk openly about what they are doing, especially as the argument given by colocation companies for not participating is often that their customers would not be happy for them to add ‘risk’. In fact, the Webaxys data centre found the reverse to be true. Customers welcomed the idea and rented space on the basis that their racks were powered by green energy. Sustainability, it appears, was a deciding factor in their decision on where to place their business. Walking around the exhibition, I also spoke to a data centre operator from Scandinavia,
Editor Louise Frampton louise@energystmedia.com t: 020 34092043 m: 07824317819 Managing Editor Tim McManan-Smith tim@energystmedia.com Design and production Paul Lindsell production@energystmedia.com m: 07790 434813
MCP April 2018
Sales director Steve Swaine steve@energystmedia.com t: 020 3714 4451 m: 07818 574300
who explained that they were using hydroelectric power at their site. They were happy to discuss the fact that they generated revenue by exporting excess energy back to the grid and I was surprised to be met with such an open and candid response. In the UK, I hear rumours of data centres that are successfully engaging with DSR, but finding one that will talk about it publicly is another matter altogether. One of the barriers to adoption is the fact that the industry is cloaked in secrecy and NDAs, which means that lessons are not being shared; suppliers are unable to evidence their successes and building confidence in approaches that deviate from the norm is proving a challenge. The data centre sector is often described as a conservative industry but the technology is now available to enable participation, while maintaining control, and people are showing signs of being more open to considering DSR as an option. However, there is a long way to go. We have surveyed mission critical sites for their views on DSR and have been speaking to a wide range of thought leaders to gain an insight into the challenges and opportunities. In this issue, there is a special focus on the issues around DSR, which will be followed by the launch of an in depth report at the The Energyst Event, taking place at the National Motorcycle Museum (17-18 April). A panel of experts will debate the issues, at the event, and The Mission Critical Power Demand-side Response Report will be freely available to download after the launch. Our aim is to uncover the answers to some of your burning questions regarding risk and reward. Louise Frampton, editor
Energyst Media Ltd, PO BOX 420, Reigate, Surrey RH2 2DU Registered in England & Wales – 8667229 Registered at Stationers Hall – ISSN 0964 8321 Printed by Warners (Midlands) plc
Commercial manager Daniel Coyne T: 02037517863 M: 07557109476 E: daniel@energystmedia.com
No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publishers. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Mission Critical Power is a controlled circulation magazine available to selected professionals interested in energy, who fall within the publishers terms of control. For those outside of these terms, annual subscriptions is £60 including postage in the UK. For all subscriptions outside the UK the annual subscription is £120 including postage.
Circulation enquiries circulation@energystmedia.com
Follow us for up-to-date news and information:
missioncriticalpower.uk