< PreviousInitiatives such as this are not alone, as, throughout Europe, there are a growing number of data centres that are capturing the heat their facilities produce and selling it to cities for municipal heat and hot water. They are recycling energy that would otherwise escape into the air untapped. Myth 2: It’s too expensive to be green Another misconception to be dispelled. Thanks to tax breaks, incentives and diminishing costs for renewable energy, it’s more affordable - and even cost-effective - for data centres to be a green and sustainable option for businesses. The energy Virtus buys is certified from fully renewable sources. It uses efficient cooling systems, installs charging points for electric vehicles and typically locates close to public transport. What’s more, the buildings themselves have sustainability accreditation from BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method). And all this doesn’t just improve green credentials, it increases efficiencies and helps to reduce operating costs. Myth 3: Cooling data centres reduces water supply for household use Another myth is that data centres use enormous amounts of water to cool equipment and keep facilities working efficiently. It’s true that more providers are turning to chilled water systems as an economical, effective and efficient way to maintain cooling. But importantly, the water used for cooling systems is mostly sourced sustainably, from boreholes or uses raw, unpurified water: NOT the supply we rely upon for household use. What’s more, the majority of large data centres use ‘closed loop’ systems, meaning that water is charged into the system during construction and then continually circulated within a facility, rather than needing new water consistently pumped into the building. Myth 4: The industry is power hungry – and nothing can change this It’s true that the data centre industry requires significant power to operate. But what the headlines fail to mention is that energy It's important that the water used for cooling systems is mostly sourced sustainably, from boreholes or uses raw, unpurified water and not the supply we rely upon for household use. ENERGY EFFICIENCY www.networkseuropemagazine.com 30consumption is another area where significant environmental strides have already been made. The ability of data centre providers to make use of renewable energy sources has been game-changing in the industry’s pursuit of a sustainable future. Many of the larger data centre providers now use 100% certified renewable energy, from sources including hydro, wind and solar. And encouragingly, renewable energy is now not only more affordable than fossil fuels, but also more reliable. And there’s more progress to be celebrated in this field too. Some data centre operators are moving away from Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). Instead, they are embracing Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with renewable generation operators, which help to increase the availability of renewables and support the UK government’s net zero commitment. Investment in PPAs delivers increased volumes of renewable energy to the grid, creates ‘green’ jobs and delivers cost certainty for operators, and competitive pricing for customers that is not subject to energy market volatility. Myth 5: Providers aren’t driving progress in sustainability initiatives The data centre industry is innovative and forward- looking and as a result, progress is happening all the time. Data centre operators are publicly committing to ambitious targets through initiatives like the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact, which has seen 25 companies and 17 associations from across Europe agree to take specific steps to make data centres climate-neutral by 2030. This pact commits signatories to ensuring their data centres are climate neutral by setting measurable targets for 2025 and 2030, such as purchasing 100% carbon-free energy, prioritising water conservation and looking for ways to recycle heat. What’s more, the industry’s progress towards green goals is evident when looking at sustainability statistics. Currently, many experts estimate that data storage and transmission to and from data centres use 1% of global electricity. Putting this seemingly alarming statistic into context, this share has hardly changed since 2010, despite the number of internet users having doubled, and global internet traffic increasing 15-fold. This is a testament to the innovative approach the industry is taking to drive sustainability. Over the last decade, we have seen a visible increase in the number of green initiatives being pursued by some of the largest tech companies in the world, and the data centre industry is at the forefront of this change. We urge people to look beyond the misleading headlines, at an industry which is committed to improving sustainability and mitigating its environmental impact. ENERGY EFFICIENCY www.networkseuropemagazine.com 31ENERGY EFFICIENCY www.networkseuropemagazine.com 32The total installed base of Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices worldwide is projected to amount to 30.9 billion units by 2025. Data centres already use massive amounts of energy, and with more and more devices coming online, they’ll need to find ways to scale capacity and consumption. Data centres are estimated to be responsible for as much as 3% of global electricity consumption today, projected to increase to 4% by 2030. The average hyperscale facility consumes 20-50MW annually, which is theoretically enough electricity to power up to 37,000 homes. Why do data centres consume so much energy? • They need a constant power supply with minimal disruptions • Servers, storage drives and network devices convert energy into heat, which must be removed from the data centre by cooling equipment (that also runs on electricity/water) • Data centres also require additional equipment, such as humidifiers and monitors • Facilities must be kept at the appropriate temperature at all times Increased regulation is inevitable Data centres will almost certainly experience increased regulations in 2023 as the world continues to grapple with mounting pressures to meet consumer demand for energy and water against the backdrop of ongoing climate change. Data centres are outsized consumers of these resources, forcing governments at all levels to take a harder look at data centre regulation. In response, the industry understands that pursuing energy and water efficiency and focusing on overall environmental and community impact are crucial to its future success and survival. For example, as part of its goal to become carbon negative by 2030, Microsoft is building three of the world’s most energy-efficient data centres in Denmark. Microsoft aims to complete the data centres by 2024. Innovations in these data centres include: • Green, renewable power • Specially designed low-energy hardware that minimises waste heat (making them 80% more energy efficient) • Recycling the surplus heat by redistributing it to the municipalities to provide heating for up to 15,000 Danish households. The impact of energy price hikes Another challenge which has hit the data centre industry hard is the increase in energy prices around the world—an increase of 600% since January 2021 in the UK market. And prices could still get higher. The UK government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme for businesses will help, but it won’t solve the problem altogether. Matthew Margetts Director of Sales and Marketing Smarter Technologies What Can Be Done About the Data Centre Energy Drain? ENERGY EFFICIENCY www.networkseuropemagazine.com 33A renewed focus on sustainability and leaving a greener footprint Data centres are looking at ways of becoming more sustainable in terms of energy efficiency and carbon emissions. The good news is that new technology is well-placed to make a difference. While there is a lot of talk about carbon neutrality and getting to net zero in the data centre sector, the first step is looking at energy efficiency—from procuring energy-efficient equipment, sourcing renewable energy, having the most energy-efficient data centre design to implementing a smart building energy monitoring system. Reducing demand is also possible through server consolidation, storage and network consolidation, hybrid cloud, telecommunications, and RAN optimisation. Every year technology developments drive further efficiency in the data centre space. It’s crazy to think that many data centres didn’t even have containment just a few years ago. The (somewhat ironic) role of IoT technology While the energy impact of data centres is undeniable, what can’t be ignored is the energy efficiency trends that have developed in parallel. So, although the rise in IoT technology is increasing data centre demand, it’s also providing better energy management. Here’s how: • Sensor technology measures and controls conditions like temperature, humidity, air quality and power • These smart building systems allow for the automatic adjustment to optimal conditions, increasing efficiency and reducing wastage. – all without relying on human interaction • Intelligent power distribution management manages power load and distribution, such as reducing the number of servers needed during low-traffic hours • Smart monitoring and management tools match the server capacity to real-time demands • Phase balancing reduces distribution feeder losses and improves system stability and security • Smart systems can efficiently and automatically manage heat distribution and recycling Data centre operations require a safe, efficient, dependable and sustainable power supply. Fortunately, the same smart technology that is necessitating the growth of data centres is also helping to make them more energy efficient and future-fit. ENERGY EFFICIENCY www.networkseuropemagazine.com 34Make the most of your presence NETWORKS EUROPE magazine is the longest established and industry leading technical journal for the network infrastructure and data centre marketplace. • NETWORKS EUROPE features editorial contributions from worldwide industry figureheads, ensuring that it’s the world’s best publication for information on all aspects of this constantly evolving industry. • Published every other month (x6 per annum), the magazine is produced in digital format, with a magazine viewing link (readable on all major electronic devices) e-mailed directly to subscribers on publication. • The readership consists of 26,000 industry professionals across Europe; with its core circulation covering the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy and Spain. • The magazine's highly focused editorial content caters exclusively for an informed audience consisting of network infrastructure professionals, including; data centre managers, facilities managers, CIOs, CTOs, ICT directors, consultants and project managers. • Key editorial content areas include; news, legislation and technical information from industry-leading companies and commentators, with detailed case studies, as well as the latest thinking in technology and practices. Advertising Advertising can be in the form of company or product promotion. You can contact our advertising team for details on costs. We accept adverts that are submitted to us in the form of image files saved as high resolution (>300dpi) *.pdf, *.png or *.jpg format files. Sponsored content We publish sponsored or branded content in the form of advertorials, case studies, white papers and product/company features. Our advertising team can help with advice and costs. Contact sales@networkseuropemagazine.com for more details. NETWORKS EUROPE The magazine for network and data centre professionals www.networkseuropemagazine.com 35 Could IoT and Reliable Mobile Coverage be the Antidote to Climate Change? CONNECTIVITY AND CABLES www.networkseuropemagazine.com 36In September 2020, in New York’s Union Square, the bright orange letters of the then, new climate clock, counted down the critical time window remaining for humanity to take action and save the world from climate chaos. To remain under 1.5°C warming and prevent the worst effects of climate change from becoming irreversible, society was warned it had only seven years and 102 days and counting, to switch from fossil fuels to renewable alternatives to keep global emissions in check. Two years down the line and carbon emissions are still rising. If we revisit the clock analogy, it currently stands at one minute to midnight, maybe less according to many scientists. Indeed, António Guterres proclaimed in his COP27 opening speech that the global climate fight will be won or lost by the end of the decade. We’ve already seen first-hand evidence of what he described as “climate hell”. During 2022, southern US States were hit by powerful winter storms leaving millions without electricity; in March, Antarctica reported a heatwave, with temperatures some 7°C higher than where they should be; parts of the UK and mainland Europe have reached temperatures in excess of 40°C; and Pakistan has experienced super floods as a result of severe monsoons and melting glaciers. Geopolitical instability in Ukraine has exacerbated the situation by causing shortages in wholesale gas supplies and soaring energy prices. The conflict has also highlighted just how little progress the world has made in its transition to renewable energy sources. If we are serious about redressing climate change, the source, to a certain extent, is irrelevant. The world needs to consume less energy overall by: • Adopting energy saving measures • Ensuring existing energy systems are working optimally to avoid waste and unnecessary emissions. Stuart Waine Director of Research & Development Spry Fox Networks d IoT and Reliable e Coverage be the to Climate Change? Stuart Waine, Director of Research and Development at Spry Fox Networks explains the key role of seamless mobile connectivity in climate change initiatives and carbon reduction strategies. CONNECTIVITY AND CABLES www.networkseuropemagazine.com 375G networks are driving IoT adoption Amid the despair, advances in IoT are offering a glimmer of hope because, by fortuitous timing, its heyday has arrived. It could be the silver bullet needed to address climate change challenges once and for all. Interconnected devices (the crux of IoT) empower both businesses and individuals to lower their carbon footprint by giving them an easy means to measure the effectiveness of their existing energy management systems and take decisive action in line. Embedded sensors can be used to monitor an array of factors, from temperature and humidity levels or total power usage, to C02 and/or methane levels. According to the World Economic Forum, IoT technologies together with 5G connectivity offer the potential to reduce global carbon emissions by 15%. Deploying IoT in commercial properties has historically been optional IoT, is not new technology. The concept has been around for the last 10 years with interconnected devices and applications prevalent in industry and consumables. Its true worth however, is coming to fruition, thanks to 5G networks going mainstream and accelerations in AI innovation. Yet a high proportion of businesses, as well as the public sector, have been reluctant to harness the benefits of IoT because of perceived upheaval, disruption to service and costs involved etc. Installing IoT-powered sensors in commercial premises has historically been optional Now that the New Building Safety Act has come into force, proprietors of any mixed-use building must nominate someone to be responsible for harnessing data. With these new safety rules to abide by, soaring costs and the planned introduction of decarbonisation strategies, means that businesses adopting a “head in the sand” approach to the merits of IoT do so at their own peril. Seamless mobile coverage is the underpinning enabler of IoT systems A common misconception of any IoT deployment is the need for powerful WiFi. The underpinning enabler to most IoT systems is cellular, as it provides the trigger mechanism for device2device communication. A mobile signal is weakened by default as soon as it is taken indoors, so providing the levels of coverage needed in commercial buildings running IoT is challenging. Materials such as reinforced concrete, galvanized steel, tinted glass, iron girders, insulation foam etc, all hinder the transmission of mobile phone signals, particularly 5G, yet this is the next generation network fuelling the IoT adoption. The type of mobile coverage system needed depends on the organisation type and size Larger organisations can overcome their signal challenges by implementing operator-connected DAS. Smaller businesses also need to address their energy usage, but they don’t have the same budgets or resources. The only way they can provide the levels of coverage needed is by taking the outside network indoors using supplementary equipment such as mobile repeaters. Before even reaching the installation phase, businesses must first assess the outdoor coverage as this will determine the type/number of repeaters needed and their configuration. This can be done by carrying out a site survey but most of the readily available tools do not provide the hierarchical view needed. When deploying IoT, quality of service at A high proportion of businesses have been reluctant to harness the benefits of IoT because of the perceived upheaval, disruption to service, costs involved etc. CONNECTIVITY AND CABLES www.networkseuropemagazine.com 38the device level is critical as this will affect the efficiency of the system and the reliability of the data captured. Advances in IoT sensors and wireless connectivity along with augmented storage and data handling processes are clearly allowing businesses to adopt energy-efficient practices and use available resources more responsibly. But any IoT investment will be superfluous if the mobile coverage levels are not addressed at the same time. If we are to leverage the merits of IoT for the greater good of the planet, then reliable cellular connectivity must be considered otherwise many investments will not be fit for purpose due to self- created mobile dead spots. If we are to leverage the merits of IoT for the greater good of the planet, then reliable cellular connectivity must be considered. CONNECTIVITY AND CABLES www.networkseuropemagazine.com 39Next >