Network Communications News (NCN) July 2016 | Page 13

O N TH E C AS E
French connection
Eaton has announced that its energy
storage technologies, developed in
collaboration with car manufacturer
Nissan, have been implemented
in Webaxys’ newly launched data
centre in Saint-Romain de Colbosc
near Le Havre, France.
Webaxys - a host and telecoms
operator, has always pursued an
innovation strategy based on
strong values of social commitment
and respect for the environment
ever since it was established in
Normandy, France back in 2003.
Incorporating renewable energies such as solar power, which is, by its nature,
intermittent into the operation of data centres, where powercuts cannot be tolerated, means
that this energy has to be stored. Eaton rose to the challenge and, in 2013, helped launch
the GreenDataNet consortium which was financed by the European Community. Led by
Eaton, the project aims to develop new technologies enabling the creation of smarter, more
energy efficient urban data centres.
In late 2015, Eaton entered into a partnership with Nissan to deploy energy storage and
management solutions in a commercial environment. Nissan batteries, which are used at full
capacity in the Leaf saloon, the world’s best selling fully electric car, are given a new lease of
life in this application. This eco-responsible approach helps to maximise the use of batteries
before they are recycled, minimising the use of natural resources.
This is the first time that the technology being implemented at Webaxys has ever been
used at a computer production site to comprehensively manage the power grid, renewable
energy contributions and battery storage, by optimising their use and ensuring maximum
operating quality.
The new Webaxys data centre incorporates solar power and an optimised air-to-air
cooling system. All the infrastructure equipment for the data centre has been supplied
by Eaton.
Enhanced by these new smart storage features, Eaton’s product portfolio can now meet
all the energy management needs of a data centre, with uninterruptible power supplies,
surge protectors, electric power distribution products, energy management software,
communication interfaces, computer rack solutions and solutions for the management of
airflow, lighting, security systems and associated customer services.

ROL

IT INFRASTRUCTURE

Stock take
Sudlows was commissioned by Stockport Council
to deliver a state-of-the-art data centre to support
current and future needs.
The £300,000 contract included a number of new
facilities to increase capacity, improved energy efficiency
and ease of management via a single interface.
Stockport is an innovative council delivering a wide
range of public services to around 286,000 residents.
The essential infrastructure provided by the Sudlows
team forms one part of the council’s wider Digital by
Design programme, which aims to improve its digital
offering through a new website and make better use
of the data it holds. The new facility will help Stockport
Council to deliver this by providing additional resilience,
security and reduce energy costs from its core facility.
The data centre is the first in the UK to be fitted
with a very advanced cooling system developed by
Airedale. Sudlows worked closely with Airedale to
develop a resilient cooling solution for Stockport
Council that incorporates the SmartCool SV DX
inverter driven PAC. The SmartCool SV provides a
highly efficient route to cooling that delivers excellent
part-load efficiencies, very precise control and lower
capacity turndown that are maximised via integration
with Airedale’s ACIS building management system.

SOFTWARE & SERVICES
www.rittal.co.uk

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