Guest blog by Mark Fenton, Product Engineering Director, Cadence Design Systems.
The data centre industry is rapidly moving towards high-density computing. With this shift comes increased scrutiny and legislation around energy use and sustainability, as well as rising competition for available power. Running an efficient data center is becoming a necessity rather than a luxury.
Commonly, air supply temperature is increased to reduce the energy required for cooling. Research indicates that organizations can save 4% to 5% in energy costs for every 1°F increase in server inlet temperature. Raising air supply temperatures reduces workload on the cooling infrastructure, requiring less compressor power on chillers, less water in adiabatic systems, lower fan power on heat exchange with the outdoors, and more free cooling hours. But, this also has drawbacks. Raising data center temperatures can adversely affect performance and resilience.
Below are key considerations when raising temperatures and how simulation tools assess the impact on data center performance, before adjusting the thermostat upwards.
1) Hot spots: Raising supply temperatures will likely raise the air temperature to IT assets. Existing hot spots become hotter, putting IT at risk of performance issues or shutdowns. Monitoring may not catch hot spots until IT performance degrades and users/customers complain.
2) Increased IT fan power draw: Raising temperatures at the inlet to IT can cause IT fans to ramp up, increasing fan power draw. This increases electricity costs and adds more fan heat to the data center that then needs cooling.
3) Reduced resilience to failure: Raising temperatures can reduce available reaction time to failures, impacting the perceived resilience. It's important to consider the impact on systems such as UPSs, batteries, or backup generators. A hotter starting point means less reaction time and less buffer before IT performance is affected.
4) Reduced capacity: Raising the cooling system's air temperatures can impact future expansions. While running a hotter data center with existing capacity might work initially, future expansions of new IT hardware could put extra strain on the system, causing thermal issues. Understanding future deployments facilitates informed decisions about short-term energy savings.
There's much to consider before raising temperatures. Certain operators have chosen to increase temperatures, monitoring negative impacts gradually. This trial-and-error approach may not immediately raise concerns, but it makes the effects of failure and future changes riskier. So, what's the solution?
Using Cadence Reality DC suite for simulation, is the only way to understand the impact of raising temperatures. Simulating the increase in supply temperatures will demonstrate how far you can proceed safely, while the software also reveals where your added risks lie. The ability to simulate time based failures in your power and cooling system, means Cadence Reality DC can reflect the long-term impact on your data center performance, while you wait for your generators to kick in.
Raising data center temperatures can provide significant savings, but these need careful management to eliminate impact on current and future IT performance. Cadence Reality DC offers a proactive glimpse into the future of the data center, allowing maximum energy savings while minimizing risk.
Data Centres Programme activities
techUK provides a collective voice for UK Data Centre operators working with government to improve the business environment for our members. We keep members up to date with the key technical and regulatory developments that may impact growth and on funding opportunities that may increase commercial competitiveness. Visit the programme page here.
2nd UK Datacentre Investment Forum, 6 February
Datacentre power consumption in the UK will increase six-fold, just in the next ten years. The supply of massive power to support expansion of existing facilities and the roll out of GW digital campuses across the country foretells significant changes in the structure and expansion of the datacentre industry.
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
Luisa C. Cardani is the Head of the Data Centres Programme at techUK, aiming to provide a collective voice for UK operators and working with government to improve business environment for the data centres sector.
Prior to joining techUK, Luisa worked in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport as the Head of International Data Protection, where she led on the development of elements of the UK's data protection and privacy policy. In her role, she was also the UK official representative for the EOCD Privacy Guidelines Informal Advisory Group.
She has held a number of position in government, including leading on cross-cutting data provisions in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and in high priority cross-departmental projects when working in the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
She holds an M.Sc. from University College London's Department of Political Sciences.
Weronika joined techUK as a Programme Manager for Sustainability in October 2023.
Her role involves advocating for the tech sector in front of key policymakers and stakeholders. Weronika also leads the environmental and sustainability efforts within the Data Centres Group.
Prior to joining techUK, Weronika worked in public affairs and government relations in the legal sector, focusing on innovation and ESG within financial services. She also spent 2 years working as a Caseworker at Parliament. She holds a BA in Politics & International Relations from Queen Mary University of London.
Outside of work, Weronika can be found on a tennis court, at the gym, practicing yoga, or indulging in her love for Taylor Swift's music as a dedicated Swiftie.
Programme Assistant, Data Centres, Climate, Environment and Sustainability, Market Access, techUK
Lucas Banach
Programme Assistant, Data Centres, Climate, Environment and Sustainability, Market Access, techUK
Lucas Banach is Programme Assistant at techUK, he works on a range of programmes including Data Centres; Climate, Environment & Sustainability; Market Access and Smart Infrastructure and Systems.
Before that Lucas who joined in 2008, held various roles in our organisation, which included his role as Office Executive, Groups and Concept Viability Administrator, and most recently he worked as Programme Executive for Public Sector. He has a postgraduate degree in International Relations from the Andrzej Frycz-Modrzewski Cracow University.
