Five Ingredients for a Future-Proofed Data Centre

David Lloyd, Head of Connected Energy Performance at Johnson Controls, delves into the challenges confronting the UK’s data centres in the latest edition of Data Centre & Network News and explores potential solutions to overcome these hurdles.

Data Centres are among the world’s most critical infrastructure, storing, processing and disseminating huge volumes of information. Without them, the modern world would struggle to function – however, with importance comes challenges. As data centres continue to grow, so too will their environmental impact – unless owners proactively adapt. But progress towards sustainability brings another critical challenge: the escalating cost of operation. 

"Data centres currently consume approximately 3% of the world’s electrical energy, a figure projected to rise to 4% by 2030. Consequently, their collective carbon footprint stands at around 330 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent, surpassing even the global aviation industry"

So, how can data centre owners ensure safety, efficiency, and sustainability? Five factors can contribute to the future-proofing of your Data Centre infrastructure:

1. Plan for flexibility and resilience
   Flexibility and resilience are key priorities for today’s data centre operators. Prioritising these enables uninterrupted service delivery, enhances reputation, and navigates digital uncertainties. Flexibility allows swift adaptation to changing demands, while resilience ensures recovery from incidents like power outages and cyber attacks. Both are essential for business continuity.
     
2. Bake in operational efficiency
   Efficient cooling in data centres is crucial for cost savings and sustainability. However, it’s challenging due to intricate requirements. Balancing effective cooling with energy conservation involves sophisticated approaches like hot/cold aisle containment, liquid cooling, and precision air distribution. Geographic location also impacts cooling system choices.
     
3. Build and retrofit for scalability
   Deloitte predicts data creation will reach 175ZB by 2025. To accommodate this surge, data centres must seamlessly expand infrastructure. Scalability not only future-proofs operations but also enables cost-effective resource allocation. Designing centres with increased networking, computing, and storage requirements in mind is crucial, leaving room for growth in space, power, and cooling.
     
4. Prioritise security and fire safety
   Data centres demand robust security and fire safety measures due to the critical nature of the data they house. Simultaneously, fire safety precautions are crucial to prevent catastrophic losses. Prioritising security and fire safety instils confidence in clients and ensures uninterrupted services.
    
5. Collaborate with an expert partner
   In the dynamic world of data centres, success lies in adaptability, rapid scalability, and unwavering operational efficiency. To achieve this, data centre owners must partner with experts who offer tailored solutions. These partners bring cutting-edge technology, energy-saving systems, and robust security measures. By collaborating with such providers, data centres can move toward a smarter, healthier, and sustainable future.
      

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