Energy- and Eco-Efficiency of Data Centres

Energie- und Ökoeffizienz von Datenzentren

Partner
ESU-Services, Encontrol, Université Catholique de Louvaine, Idheap, Amstein + Walthert AG

Time Frame
2001-2003

Funding
Canton of Geneva (DIAE / ScanE)

Abstract
In this study we investigate strategies and technical approaches to fostering more energy-efficient and environmentally sound planning, building and operating of data centres. We then also formulate recommendations on how to integrate the findings in the legal and regulatory framework in order to handle construction permits for large energy consumers and promote energy efficiency in the economic sectors.

1 English Summary

The starting point of the study is the "accord" negotiated between the Canton of Geneva, operators of data centres and representatives of environmental organisations concerning the energy and environmental aspects to be considered in the new data centres. The government intends to integrate the results of this negotiation process in the regular procedure set up to handle construction permits for large energy consumers and to promote energy efficiency in the economic sectors. In order to support this process three aspects of the accord are investigated in detail:

Is it feasible and does it make sense to measure energy efficiency in data centres by the Coefficient of Energy Efficiency (CEE)?
Are voluntary policies approaches adequate in the socio-political situation in Geneva and adapted for data centres and similar activities?
Can the required "equal treatment" of all companies with activities similar to data centres and of large energy consumers in all other economic sectors be fulfilled?

An international conference is planned to take place in Geneva in 2004 to disseminate and discuss the findings of this study, and exchange results and conclusions of experts working on similar and related projects in other countries.

2 Project Description

Approach and methodology: Energy-economic and policy aspects of these three issues are studied. The energy analysis is focused on data centres and similar activities in the ICT-sector, but the outcomes relative to the central infrastructure of the buildings are valid for all kinds of high electric load buildings. The policy analysis takes a more general approach and the findings can be applied to all large energy consumers.

Energy efficiency in data centres: In the absence of an adequate indicator for the service delivered by data centres, energy efficiency is measured by the coefficient of energy efficiency (CEE), a two-step measure of the fraction of the "useful" energy:

CEE = C1 * c2 = ( U / T ) * (u / U), with

T ... total electricity consumption of data centre
U ... total el. consumption of ICT-equipment
u ..."useful" el. consumption of ICT-equipment

Policies to foster energy efficiency in data centres: Existing voluntary approaches - "Energiemodell Zürich" and the "Energiemodell Schweiz" - are evaluated. This approach, "voluntary agreement on target values", is compared to the actual situation in Geneva that concentrates more on the procedure to be followed. It is also compared to other scenarios characterised by a higher degree of intervention.

3 Results

The detailed analysis of the technical-economic feasibility showed that C1, the first component of CEE, is a good choice to describe the energy efficiency of a data centres central infrastructure. It can be used in the construction-permission process and in the follow-up monitoring process. The second component of CEE, C2 measuring inefficiencies in the ICT equipment, can be used to monitor the inefficiencies in the ICT equipment. But the uncertainties are still too important to use C2 as an indicator leading to a target value or even a constraining standard.

Voluntary policy is the essence of scenario S2. It fits well in the actual policy "environment" in Switzerland (cf. voluntary agreements for CO2 reduction) and in the initiated legislative reforms in Geneva, and can be implemented immediately. More constraining policies (S3, S4) are investigated regarding the central infrastructure. A comparison shows an obvious advantage of S3 and S4 regarding effectiveness, but the political obstacles and the time needed to prepare and implement these policies are probably rather important. Furthermore, additional administrative resources as well as a cultural change within the ScanE are pre-conditions for more constraining policies.

The conclusions of the policy analysis are not restricted to ICT companies. The different scenarios can be applied to all important energy consumers in all economic sectors - provided that adequate indicators for energy efficiency can be defined and determined.
Seventeen recommendations grouped in four topics are formulated. These topics are:

Transfer of the accord into an institutionalised legal and regulatory framework
Energy-efficiency policies for all large energy consumers
Preconditions, pre-requisites
Operational design of voluntary energy policies

In a final outlook it is recalled that the future electricity demand of data centres is uncertain, but that electricity demand will grow substantially for ICT in general. Nevertheless, electricity for ICT will remain in the coming years a small fraction of total energy and electricity consumption in Geneva. In order to reach the goals set by the energy policy in Geneva, it is most important to involve all economic activities and all energy-consuming processes and equipment in a process aimed at a more energy-efficient economy.

4 Publications

Aebischer B., Eubank H. and Tschudi W. (2004). Energy Efficiency Indicators for Data Centers, Proceedings of the International Conference on "Improving Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings, IEECB’04", Frankfurt, 21 – 22 April. [pdf, 160 kB]

Eubank H., Aebischer B., Lewis M. et al. (2004). High Performance Data Centers, Proceedings of the International Conference on "Improving Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings IEECB’04”, Frankfurt, 21 - 22 April. [pdf, 49 kB]

Bernard Aebischer, Markus A. Balmer, Satkartar Kinney, Pascale Le Strat, Yoshiaki Shibata, Frédéric Varone. Energy efficiency indicators for high electric-load buildings Proceedings ECEEE 2003 Summer Study "Time to turn down energy demand - Energy intelligent solutions for climate, security and sustainable development", 2-7 June 2003, St Raphael/France [pdf].

Aebischer B., Frischknecht R., Genoud Ch., Huser A., Varone F., 2002, Energy Efficiency Indicator for High Electric-Load Buildings, The Case of Data Centres. Proceedings of the IEECB 2002. 2nd International Conference on Improving Electricity Efficiency in Commercial Buildings, Ademe (Ed.), Nice, France, 27-29 May 2002 (.pdf, 83 kB)

Aebischer, B., Frischknecht R., Genoud Ch., Huser A., Varone F., Energy- and Eco-Efficiency of Data Centres. A study commissioned by DIAE / ScanE of the Canton of Geneva. Geneva, January 2003. (.pdf, 806 kB)

5 Presentations

Aebischer B. (2004). Energy Efficiency Indicators for Data Centers, International Conference on "Improving Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings IEECB’04”, Frankfurt, 1 - 22 April.

Energy- and Eco-Efficiency of Data Centres. Past Activities and Future Plans in Geneva. RMI Data Center Charrette, San José, Ca., USA, February 2-5, 2003