Looking At Cutting the Data Center Energy Bill? 5 Efficient Technologies to Adopt in 2022

An average data center can cost as much as $1.4 million in annual energy costs, and this number will grow with increasing data demand. This article explains why energy efficiency is so important in a data center environment and discusses five technologies to help achieve it.

The carbon footprint left by data centers has been a growing concern. According to recent researchOpens a new window , data centers are responsible for 1% of all the electricity consumed worldwide, which comes to approximately 205 terawatt-hours of energy. This number is expected to grow as internet demand increases and evolves. In Ireland, for example, data centers could use up to 31%Opens a new window of the region’s energy supply by 2030. This has several implications. Not only is there long-term damage to the environment due to the use of non-renewable energy sources, but data center operators also have to contend with soaring energy bills every year. 

How Do You Calculate Energy Consumption in a Data Center? 

Data center energy consumption is measured using power usage effectiveness (PUE). PUE is calculated by dividing the total power supply that the data center facility consumes by the power that is ultimately supplied to IT equipment. If the data center consumes a total of 9 watts worth of power and the IT equipment inside it uses 3 watts of power, then its PUE is 9/3 = 3. 

A higher PUE indicates that the data center is inefficient, and a lot of energy is spent running its operations instead of powering the equipment it houses. PUE is also closely linked to costs. When your data centers are efficient, they can provide you with the same level of performance and capacity at a fraction of the infrastructure costs. 

That’s why global leaders like Google keep an eagle eye on their PUE, publish regular PUE reportsOpens a new window , and have steadily brought their PUE levels down from 1.22 in 2008 to 1.10 in 2021. 

The main reason why data centers consume so much energy is colling requirements. The power supply in a data center must pass through a complex distribution network before IT systems use it. The distribution process generates heat, which necessitates power-intensive cooling systems. Humidity must also be managed to prevent equipment wear and tear, adding to energy costs. 

See More: Data Center Industry on the Rise Despite Outages, Sustainability Challenges

How Can You Improve Data Center Energy Efficiency in 2021? 

An average data center can consume anywhere between $360,000 and $1.4 million worth of energy supply in a year, mainly because data centers operate 24/7/365. How can you ensure uninterrupted performance, optimal equipment health, and stable conditions while ensuring your energy bills are under control? Here are five technologies that can help. 

• Power-optimization DCIM platforms

Data center infrastructure management (DCIM) platforms are smart building solutions for large-scale server environments. They use a connected landscape of sensors, equipment, meters, circuits, and busways to monitor and record operational metrics in real-time constantly. A separate category of DCIM platforms is dedicated to power optimization, which maps energy consumption metrics and reveals trends. In 2022, you can use tools like Sunbird PowerIQ, Energy Optimizer by Nlyte Software, and others to detect overprovisioning, inefficient power distribution, and real-time load. 

• Composable infrastructure software platforms

Composable infrastructure refers to an emerging data center methodology that replaces on-premise networking equipment with cloud computing. The goal is to power IT equipment without having to house and supply energy to networking infrastructure in-house. Instead, a disaggregated set of cloud resources ensure that the equipment stays connected 24/7 at a fraction of the energy costs. Companies like Liqid are coming up with composable infrastructure innovations for data centers. You can configure and scale physical servers in seconds and reallocate resources through software-defined technology to reduce energy consumption. 

• ML-driven energy intelligence frameworks

This is the primary reason behind Google’s declining PUE in the last few years. Machine learning (ML) algorithms can train an intelligence framework on the different operating scenarios and conditions expected in a data center. The algorithm studies these variables and past outcomes to produce accurate energy consumption predictions. You can arrive at the most efficient and cost-effective cooling mechanisms based on these predictions. Google reduced its energy requirements for cooling by 40%Opens a new window using ML. 

• Gallium nitride (GaN) based ICs

Gallium nitride (GaN) devices have been in production for over a decade. Still, it’s only recently that the industry has started to explore this technology as an alternative to traditional silicon integrated circuits (ICs). Devices built using GaN can operate at much higher temperatures and have a high power density. This makes it ideal for building data center infrastructure and ICs. In 2022, you can consider GaN semiconductors in your data centers and eventually plan for infrastructure that relies heavily on this highly energy-efficient new material. 

• Grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs)

Grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs) are envisioned as self-sustaining facilities that produce clean energy on-premise to avoid the high energy costs required to manage peak demand. Initially, GEBs will be limited to residential and commercial facilities but can soon evolve to encompass data centers. It is estimated that the U.S. alone could save $18 billionOpens a new window in energy costs by 2030 by incorporating GEBs. Data centers designed on GEB principles will combine DCIM technology to manage energy efficiency with AI/ML to drive demand flexibility so that there is an optimal balance between energy demand and supply. 

See More: How Data Centers Rely on Cutting-Edge Technologies for Maximum Security

Moving the needle in the right direction 

While data centers are undeniably major power guzzlers, companies are investing in the right direction, with positive outcomes. Traditional data center energy demand has decreased over the years, and energy demand among cloud data centers has largely held steady. Companies like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft have started to publicly discuss their energy efficiency strategies in a bid to help others. Ultimately, energy and cost-efficient data center will depend on three things: 

• Core materials and equipment that are less power-hungry 
• Intelligent cooling systems and predictive capabilities 
• Holistic infrastructure that’s designed for a minimal carbon footprint, backed by scientific research 

By investing in all three of these areas, you can look at cutting your data center energy bill in 2022 and moving towards greater sustainability in the long term. 

What is your strategy to optimize data center energy consumption in 2022? Tell us on LinkedInOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window . We would love to hear from you!