< PreviousDavid Watkins Solutions Director VIRTUS Data Centres digital infrasstructure www.networkseuropemagazine.com 40Organisations in the sector are working to get ahead of the game and prove their sustainability credentials – with many cloud and data centre operators committed to becoming climate neutral by 2030. However, there are a number of issues to be navigated before true success can be realised. Many data centre providers now use being “green”, as a competitive advantage, but without a uniform and consistent application of standardised measurements, claims of sustainability could be unsubstantiated or misinterpreted. What’s more, data centre providers need to balance the need to be green with the imperative to provide a reliable and resilient service. A holistic approach to the ‘three Rs’ is key; marrying Reliability with Resilience and Responsibility. Importantly, the industry must seek to earn the trust of businesses that are sceptical about ‘green washing’ and use sustainability as a marketing ploy. A holistic approach to sustainability Many experts agree that the most important thing data centres can do is to look at the technology being used and work out how it can be run more efficiently. Data centres and server rooms must meet a high standard for energy efficiency, which can be demonstrated through aggressive power use effectiveness (PUE) targets – and many providers work with cutting edge technology solutions to help reach them. Solutions such as integrated building management systems and software solutions allow providers to track how their data centres are performing and ensure they aren't wasting energy. There is also a growing commitment to ‘get more life’ from data centre equipment. For example, when an asset requires replacing, environmentally committed providers will assess whether refurbished parts can be used to renew and repair it instead. Recycling forms Across all sectors, taking responsibility for your environmental impact has become an undeniable business imperative – not least in the power-hungry data centre industry. Indeed, the demand for interconnected services has increased exponentially in recent years, and the power we consume as an industry has skyrocketed – meaning that it’s only right that sustainability now sits at the top of the data centre industry’s agenda. Building a reliable, resilient and responsible digital infrastructure: marrying the ‘three Rs’ digital infrastructure www.networkseuropemagazine.com 41a big part of data centres’ sustainability strategies too – whether that’s distributing equipment no longer needed on the secondary market, or ensuring it’s disposed of effectively at the end of its life. However, the data centre industry isn’t going to achieve true sustainability simply by relying on developments in technology and tweaking what is being done now. Indeed, most data centres have been operating best practice for some time such as developing a robust approach to air management and implementing effective cooling techniques. Even with all this progress, there’s still a long way to go before the industry is truly sustainable. A more holistic approach is needed which considers sustainability at every point of the data centre lifecycle – from design, to build, to operation and maintenance. Reducing a facility’s carbon footprint requires more than making tweaks - it starts on the construction site. Data centres use enormous amounts of concrete and steel, which are major sources of CO2, and as the sustainability gains from operational efficiencies dry up, providers will have to look to embodied carbon in the construction phase if they are serious about being climate neutral. As an industry, we must commit to using low carbon materials, to streamline the delivery process and minimise consumption of new resources. Why the ‘three Rs’ are fundamentally entwined To achieve true sustainability, it’s important that we look across the entire lifecycle of a facility, and crucially, to ensure that we can prove our credentials at every step of the way. But what about the imperative to marry sustainability goals with performance commitments? Can data centre companies really do both – provide the most reliable service while being sustainable? These commitments actually go hand-in-hand. A sustainable data centre is also often a high performing and reliable facility. For example, renewable energy sources are fast becoming seen as more reliable than fossil fuels – not least, because renewable energy is not reliant on a single source, but from several – such as wind, solar, hydro and biomass. What’s more, free from the fluctuations of the international oil market, renewable energy is more resilient in cases of falling demand and economic decline – crucial as we traverse through an uncertain political and economic landscape. Another great example of performance and sustainability being intrinsically linked is within the cooling of a data centre. There has been plenty of innovation happening in this arena, and the good news is that energy-efficient methods of cooling – such as harnessing indirect adiabatic and evaporative cooling technology – are both more sustainable and more efficient than many older methods. There have, however, also been efficiency improvements with older methods resulting in improved performance without the water consumption of adiabatic systems. This has led to the availability of solutions that are suitable for all climate regions around the globe. There are cost savings to be had in being green too. The short-term costs associated with sustainability initiatives often cause concern for providers, but one only needs to look at the potential cost savings of conducting a more sustainable business (and therefore more efficient) to see that long-term cost savings are certainly possible. Being green isn’t just good for the environment – it’s good for business too. digital infrastructure www.networkseuropemagazine.com 42Building trust through a transparent approach One of the main challenges to true sustainability has been transparency and the ability to demonstrate to users and customers that data centre providers are keeping their promises when it comes to meeting green obligations. And this is not referring to monthly or annual reports to stakeholders. Instead, what’s required is dynamic data that shows enduring improvements are being made together with transparent strategies that reveal what’s ahead in the quest for sustainability. To tackle persistent accusations of ‘green washing’ or ‘green hushing’ (essentially treating ‘being green’ as a good PR strategy), it’s perhaps no surprise that the savviest data centre providers are prioritising being able to prove and substantiate their green credentials. One good way of being publicly accountable is to obtain certifications, providing a third-party verification of sustainability credentials. Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method (or BREEAM) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) are both sustainability rating schemes for the built environment, while also looking at the lifecycle of a building, from the concept and design to construction, operation and maintenance. Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) is another certification from Ofgem aiming to provide transparency to customers about the proportion of electricity that suppliers source from renewable generation. Standards can also be helpful in the pursuit of transparency and accountability - specifically ISO 50001 for Energy Management and ISO 14001 for Environmental Management. These standards provide a clear framework, allowing providers to thoroughly interrogate their effectiveness against green ambitions on an ongoing basis. Importantly, they also reinforce the need for a continual improvement process that creates long term sustainable success rather than allowing providers to fall into the trap of prioritising ‘quick wins’ which can prove both costly and ineffective. All of this points firmly to the issue of trust. With so many grey areas – and a risk of some false promises – it’s going to be crucial for data centre providers to earn their customers’ trust, proving that they’re able to meet and surpass the promises they make. Providers can further demonstrate their commitment by joining together to support government initiatives such as the European Green Deal. VIRTUS Data Centres is a signatory to the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact, a group of data centre operators and trade associations in Europe that have committed to ensure data centres are climate neutral by 2030, in advance of the European Green Deal target of Europe being climate neutral by 2050. The journey to sustainability won’t be easy, particularly for notoriously power-hungry data centres, and, with some analysts estimating that the global data load will rise to a staggering 572 Zettabytes (ZB) - around 10 times more than today - the challenge for providers to deliver more capacity of always-on connectivity together with true sustainability is only going to get tougher. But the truth is that achieving real, long term, sustainability is an objective that must be achieved. It's not hyperbole to say that the future of the world is at risk if we don’t adopt greener, more sustainable systems and practices. It’s also important to note that the data centre industry has an opportunity to lead by example, showing other sectors that by harnessing the brightest minds and cutting-edge technology, it is possible to ‘green’ even the most power-intensive industry. Encouragingly, there is plenty of good work already being done in the data centre industry to meet its collective sustainability obligations – not least in the arena of sustainable power sources. Some providers, only ever use truly renewable energy from wind, hydro or solar sources. What’s more, the use of alternative fuels such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) instead of diesel in generators has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by up to 90% - as well as eliminating sulphur dioxide emissions and reducing harmful nitrogen oxides. Looking further ahead, there’s plenty of innovation happening too which paints an optimistic picture of the future. Technical developments in areas like fuel cells are continuing at pace – and while they’re not viable at the scale needed by data centre providers right now, developments are ongoing. When they can perform at the right level, they are likely to present another compelling option for green data centre power. However, organisations must be mindful that not all facilities have an equal environmental impact. Large central data centres can operate much more efficiently than a small cluster of data centres distributed all over the country. But, whatever the differences between companies’ facilities and even territories, what’s clear is that everyone has a part to play in driving innovation in this area – and that we must all work hard to achieve that all-important trifecta of responsibility, reliability and resilience. digital infrastructure www.networkseuropemagazine.com 43Alex Smith, Technical Director at flexible conduit manufacturer, Flexicon examines why these considerations should extend to the appropriate protection of data and power cabling. He explains some of the common myths around fire protection performance and the variety of differing standards in place. In its recent whitepaper entitled Fire Protection Options in Data Centres, The European Data Centre Association (EUDCA) examines the correct approach to fire safety. It acknowledges that as critical facilities become larger and more complex, with significant growth in power concentration, the risk of fires will increase. The paper outlines features that should be taken into consideration in data centre design, such as the protection of critical infrastructures, including electrical rooms, UPS rooms, diesel engines and carrier rooms via a risk-based analysis. Assessing the risk Fire hazard assessment is essential in buildings where there is an element of risk, such as in a data centre or server room. It should include possible sources, examine the likelihood of a fire starting and address the consequences, such as evacuation protocols, loss of service and damage to equipment. The UK Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) requires applications to be non-flame propagating (self- extinguishing) and tested by means of the flame propagation test in EN 61386. Many customers will assume that this basic requirement will be met by any flexible conduit they specify, but this is not always the case. The definition of low fire hazard For a product to be classified as a low fire hazard, it must display four clearly defined characteristics. It must be highly flame retardant, have low smoke emission, low toxic fumes and be halogen-free. All metal conduit systems are an inherently low fire hazard; however, most conduit systems are now plastic coated or all plastic, so their performance needs to be assessed. For example, although a ‘halogen free’ conduit may prevent the generation of toxic gases in some settings, it does not mean necessarily that it is also flame Four Criteria for Fire Performance Protecting Network Cabling Infrastructure Alex Smith, Technical Director, Flexicon network cabling www.networkseuropemagazine.com 44network cabling www.networkseuropemagazine.com 45retardant or have low smoke properties and may still be flammable if exposed to a heat source. Common terms suggest that adequate fire protection is in place, when the product may only meet one of the four required facets. For example, ‘low smoke and fume (LSF)’ rated products may not address toxicity and ‘low smoke zero halogen (LSOH)’ specification may not address flame retardancy. However, there are numerous flexible conduit solutions available that meet all four requirements for low fire hazard specification. Flame Retardancy First, the product must demonstrate appropriate flame retardancy and there are several established test methods to prove performance. Flammability is the measure of how difficult it is to ignite the conduit if it is exposed to a heat source. The minimum requirement is that the product is self- extinguishing, according to conduit system standard EN 61386. Here a vertical sample of the conduit is exposed to a 1kW burner and must extinguish within 30 seconds of the removal of the flame with no flaming droplets. Low smoke emission If the conduit is involved in a fire, the smoke generated may obscure vision and it is important to limit this as much as possible. There are several fire tests, where a specified sample of material is burnt under controlled conditions in a given size smoke chamber and the smoke obscuration of a defined beam of light is measured. Low toxicity To test for toxicity, a specified sample of material is burnt under controlled conditions in a smoke chamber and the fumes are analysed for various gases. The concentration of each gas is then multiplied by its toxic potency to give a toxicity index. If halogens, sulphur or phosphorus are present in a material, it is unlikely to pass the low toxicity tests. Halogen-free A common misconception is that a halogen-free material is automatically a low fire hazard product. A material certainly cannot be considered a low fire hazard if it contains halogen, but in addition, it should meet the full criteria for low toxicity, low smoke and flame-retardant properties. network cabling www.networkseuropemagazine.com 46Typical halogens are fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine. Chlorine is the most common in PVC, fluorine is present in fluoro-polymers and bromine appears in flame retardants. All these produce highly toxic fumes and thick smoke if exposed to a naked flame; another reason why operators may have tended to rate this area of performance above other fire hazard properties. Suitability and compatibility While many products may look the same, performance properties can vary greatly so customers should always check suitability and compatibility for their application. Polypropylene, NFR (Non-flame retardant) is a commonly used material for network cable protection as it is halogen, sulphur and phosphorous free, so will not aid acid formation, but is highly flammable, and flame propagating In contrast, PA6 (nylon) is self-extinguishing, and halogen, sulphur and phosphorous free. Bespoke-designed cable protection For more complex application requirements, customers should speak to their supplier to discuss bespoke options. These could include conduit supplied in non-standard or pre-cut lengths, in larger or smaller diameters or with different thread termination or fitting options. 45º and 90º elbows can also be used to help maintain bend radius. Additionally, more complex requirements, such as altering performance characteristics to meet a certain temperature requirement, compression strength or abrasion resistance or to achieve a greater fatigue life may also be considered. In conclusion Flame retardancy, low smoke emission, low toxicity and halogen-free manufacture – when prioritising the fire performance of electrical installations, ensure that all aspects of fire performance have been considered. This should include evidence of the material properties, the breadth of any testing undertaken and proof that all the four criteria identified have been met. network cabling www.networkseuropemagazine.com 47Navigating the components shortage Rasheed Mohamad, EVP Global Operations, Business Technology and Quality, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise components shortage www.networkseuropemagazine.com 48When the health crisis forced most people in developed countries to work, study and socialise remotely overnight, demand for technology naturally skyrocketed. Office workers were video conferencing via PC from their living room, children were learning remotely, perhaps on a tablet or mobile phone on the kitchen table. Even doctors were giving consultations online. During a time of social distancing, the world came to rely on technology to work, learn and stay connected. Needless to say, we were not prepared for this major surge in demand, which accelerated digital transformation for enterprises and the home. While this opened opportunities for some industries, the increasing demand was met with a host of new challenges derived from the pandemic. National lockdowns and factory closures made production and distribution of products slow and cumbersome – and placed particular pressure on the sourcing of raw materials and manufacture of components, leading to a global shortage on a scale we had never experienced before. Market tension There is significant tension in the components and raw materials market with limited production capacity unable to fulfil the high demand from some verticals, such as automotive, consumer electronics, 5G and industrial communication infrastructure. In the midst of a pandemic, governments logically prioritised component distribution to the healthcare industry and lifesaving efforts, further affecting the network and data industry. The return to normal supply levels is still some way off. 2022 has started in the same vein as the way 2021 ended, and the situation is not expected to recover until 2023. As businesses scramble to maintain production levels, procurement has shifted from being focused on cost to being focused on continuity and resilience. Manufacturing capacity One of the critical issues is that there are only a few manufacturers fulfilling the global requirements for chipsets worldwide and, even prior to the components shortage, these manufacturers were already producing at maximum capacity. End-of-life or ageing technology must also be factored into the equation. It is crucial to be aware of – and prepared for ageing technology – in your roadmap. Some technology may reach end-of-life earlier than had been previously planned because foundries want to focus on catering to component demand for newer or more profitable technologies. Finding a way to accelerate, or shorten, the go- to-market journey for new products with up-to-date chipset building technology will help reduce allocation issues. Within the electronics supply ecosystem, there are different dynamics at play. Overall demand worldwide is up, on top of capacity already being full. Surge in demand and the ensuing disruptions from the pandemic, including severe transportation delays, coupled with unforeseen events such as floods, and now escalating tensions in Eastern Europe, has turned the component shortage into a global crisis with steep price increases and extended lead times. components shortage www.networkseuropemagazine.com 49Next >