Intelligent Data Centres Issue 41 | Page 46

THE EXTENT OF MODIFICATION TO AN EXISTING
INFRASTRUCTURE DEPENDS ON
THE TYPE OF DR SCHEME THE DATA CENTRE
PARTICIPATES IN . a clean fuel such as HVO , for the type of sustainable DR required at grid scale . The possibilities in terms of reducing GHG marginal emissions are significant if a sufficient amount of data centre capacity is disconnected from the grid to mitigate intense fossil fuel-driven spikes in the grid carbon emission profile .
FEATURE

THE EXTENT OF MODIFICATION TO AN EXISTING

INFRASTRUCTURE DEPENDS ON

THE TYPE OF DR SCHEME THE DATA CENTRE

PARTICIPATES IN . a clean fuel such as HVO , for the type of sustainable DR required at grid scale . The possibilities in terms of reducing GHG marginal emissions are significant if a sufficient amount of data centre capacity is disconnected from the grid to mitigate intense fossil fuel-driven spikes in the grid carbon emission profile .

For DR frequency response schemes , most major manufacturers ’ UPSs are designed today for DR and enabled bidirectional power flow . However , older UPS models are often unidirectional by design . Battery backup energy store for UPS ride-through is mainly based on chemical lead-acid or Lithium-ion battery storage systems , although in some data centres kinetic energy stores are gaining traction and newer battery technologies are being evaluated .
Data centres have inherent energy storage in their UPS batteries and flywheels as well as generating capacity in their emergency generators that can be used to provide DR services in the appropriate circumstances .
Conclusion
Demand Response provides data centre technical leaders with a method to become more sustainable and generate additional revenue from their operations . The extent of modification to an existing infrastructure depends on the type of DR scheme the data centre participates in . From a sustainable investor perspective , data centres represent billions of dollars of unrealised DR revenue and unused GHG abatement potential . �
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