The rapid increase of cloud computing, high performance computing (HPC) and the vast growth in Internet and Social Media use have aroused the interest in energy consumption and the carbon footprint of Data Centres. Data Centres primarily contain electronic equipment used for data processing (servers), data storage (storage equipment), and communications (network equipment). Collectively, this equipment processes, stores, and transmits digital information and is known as information technology (IT) equipment.
Advanced Concepts for Renewable Energy Supply of Data Centres introduces a number of technical solutions for the supply of power and cooling energy into Data Centres with enhanced utilisation of renewable energy sources in order to achieve low energy Data Centres. Because of the high energy density nature of these unique infrastructures, it is essential to implement energy efficiency measures and reduce consumption before introducing any renewable energy source. A holistic approach is used with the objective of integrating many technical solutions such as management of the IT (Information Technology) load, efficient electrical supply to the IT systems, Low-Ex air-conditioning systems, interaction with district heating and cooling networks, re-use of heat, free cooling (air, seawater, groundwater), optimal use of heat and cold storage, electrical storage and integration in smart grids.
This book is therefore a catalogue of advanced technical concepts that could be integrated into Data Centres portfolio in order to increase the overall efficiency and the share of renewable energies in power and cooling supply. Based on dynamic energy models implemented in TRNSYS some concepts are deeply evaluated through yearly simulations. The results of the simulation are illustrated with Sankey charts, where the energy flows per year within the subsystems of each concept for a selected scenario are shown, and graphs showing the results of parametric analysis. A set of environmental metrics (as the non-renewable primary energy) and financial metrics (CAPEX and OPEX) as well of energy efficiency metrics like the well-known PUE, are described and used to evaluate the different technical concepts.
Dr. Jaume Salom is the head of the Thermal Energy and Building Performance research group at IREC (Catalonia Institute for Energy Research). Previously to joining IREC in 2010, he co-founded and led the cooperative firm AIGUASOL, which has become an international reference in the field of thermal energy efficiency, renewable energies, building physics and software development. He holds a doctorate degree in Thermal Engineering from the Polytechnical University of Catalonia (Spain) and he has research and professional experience in the fields of heat and mass transfer, fluid mechanics, building energy efficiency, thermal comfort and dynamic simulation. In his current position in the division of Energy efficiency in Systems, Buildings and Communities he leads IREC participation in several national, international and industrial research projects directed towards improving energy performance in buildings and energy systems. Dr. Jaume Salom research interest in the last years has been focused on Net Zero Energy Buildings and Communities, as well of studying energy efficiency and integration of renewable energy sources in Data Centre infrastructures. Dr. Jaume Salom is the Spanish secretary in the TC ISO/IEC JTC1 SC39 Sustainability for and by information technology.
Dr.-Ing. habil. Thorsten Urbaneck is the Head of the division of Thermal Energy Storage at the Chemnitz University of Technology since 2006. Since 1996 is scientific staff at this university, hold a doctorate degree since 2004 and has becoming supernumerary professor in 2017. His main research topics are: Thermal energy storages and systems engineering; solar thermal systems; district heating and cooling; combined heat and power; numerical simulation and optimization of system for heating and cooling; evaluation and validation of models in the field of heat and mass transfer; monitoring of supply systems and experiments in laboratory. Thorsten Urbaneck has been publishing more than 190 papers, holding over 170 oral presentations and is the single author of 2 books and co-author of another 2 books. He holds 4 patents and has filed 3 further applications.
Dr. Eduard Oró joined the Catalonia Institute for Energy Research in October 2013, where he currently investigates into the Thermal Energy and Building Performance group. He holds a doctorate degree in Thermal Engineering from the University of Lleida and he has research and professional experience in the fields of heat and mass transfer, fluid mechanics, numerical and dynamic simulation, thermal energy storage systems, transportation and storage of temperature sensitive products. During his stay at the University of Lleida was in charge of the thermal energy storage area at high temperature (>120°C) for solar cooling and concentrated power plants and at the same time at low temperature (
