Always On Yet Green : Leveraging Technology to Advance Safe &
Sustainable Hyperscale Data Centers
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PENNY MURPHY , PARTNER , DIGITAL SOLUTIONS , ASIA PACIFIC , ERM
REBECCA GREEN , REGIONAL CLIENT & MARKET LEADER , TECHNOLOGY MEDIA & TELECOM , ASIA PACIFIC , ERM
Today , prior to developing and operating a data center , it is vital to conduct a comprehensive site due diligence , rigorous impact , and social risks assessment , optimise with renewable energy , obtain timely approvals for safe and seamless development , and practise compliant operations and execution .
• Smarter site selection and collaboration with Geospatial technology
For many data center owners , the ability to utilise data and technology to make robust decisions at early stages of site selection is crucial . Using the geospatial imagery captured through satellite and unmanned aerial vehicles ( UAV ), owners can assess the environmental landscape to support site selection . In addition , the insights obtained from geospatial imagery provide the ability to integrate these data points into a digital twin model - creating a collaboration platform as data centers move through the plan , design , construct and operate phases . Through Digital Twin , one can also promote sustainable development through better site expansion planning .
• Understanding impact through a data-driven approach
Through crunching of past complex data sets , coupled with the inputs from the on-site technical assessments , we can call out anomalies on possible risk factors such as floods , seismic hazards , and other natural disasters , and identify underlying hazardous materials and payload . At ERM , we have developed a Climate Risk , Impacts and Solutions Platform ( CRISP ), to support the understanding of physical risks to assets . This can be undertaken for a wide range of contexts . From providing early insights such as risks to assets
during the due diligence process , responding to risk requests required by regulators and other bodies to supporting disclosures , CRISP enables organisations to plan for their future , i . e ., financial , operational and supply chain . A site feasibility study with predictive analysis , will enable a better assessment of the cost of assets conversion and its access to both energy and water , and impact to its community .
• Eco-friendly site development and timely permitting with regulatory compliance systems
There is a need to ensure that timely licensing and permitting are obtained for the development and construction of the data centers , adhering to both the regional and local regulatory requirements . The need to understand the investors or banks global standards are also of paramount to obtain financing . As the regulatory landscape evolves rapidly across APAC , the need to understand the impact of national , federal , and municipal regulations in real-time is key . Through a smart regulatory monitoring and compliance system , data centers can consolidate the required regulatory and eliminate much time to obtain approvals . At ERM , we have developed a service THEMIS and have strategic partners that allows for notifications of regulatory changes , the applicability of these regulations and associated actions , and tasks to support a compliant data center .
• EHS information systems to optimise operations and emergency planning
The needs to establish clear EHS policy , strategy and processes are significant and involve a very broad