In 2020, the evolution and innovation of green technologies in data centers

Release Date:

2020-08-21 14:30

Source:

In 2020, the evolution and innovation of green technologies in data centers

Guided Attention

In recent years, with the rapid rise of the Internet and the digital economy, China's data center construction has achieved remarkable growth. However, the high energy consumption characteristics of traditional data center infrastructure have also put pressure on electricity, water resources, and land resources. This means that the relatively rigid construction model, high energy consumption, and high investment operational methods of traditional data centers have reached a stage where urgent transformation is necessary.

From the perspective of data center construction and operation, the rapid expansion in the number and scale of data centers has simultaneously led to a continuous increase in data center energy consumption. During this process, it is also evident that the traditional operation and maintenance model, which relies entirely on manual labor, can no longer meet the current requirements for energy efficiency and operational maintenance efficiency in data centers.

Therefore, building intelligent and green data centers must focus on optimal full lifecycle management and integrate intelligence throughout the design, construction, operation, and maintenance stages of data centers to achieve value reconstruction.

Today, there are specialized solutions in the market that deploy intelligent automatic detection, intelligent data analysis, and intelligent decision execution in data centers, enabling effective "monitoring, management, operation, and control" of data centers, ultimately achieving stable operation and maximizing utilization. Among these, AI technology-driven intelligent reconstruction of operation and maintenance systems endows the system with capabilities such as fault prediction and self-healing, while also reducing costs, which plays an important role in developing green data centers.

In general, coordinating data center layout, servers, air conditioning equipment, and management software applications, selecting locations with abundant energy and water resources, utilizing natural cooling sources to reduce energy consumption, choosing high-density, high-performance, and low-power servers; optimizing the hot and cold airflow layout in machine rooms, and adopting precise air supply and rapid heat source cooling measures can all significantly enhance the energy-saving effects of data centers.

It must also be pointed out that overall energy saving and consumption reduction in data centers require a global and full-stack perspective. If energy saving and consumption reduction are addressed in isolation at any single level, it will not maximize energy-saving effects; on the contrary, it may reduce infrastructure functionality and increase construction and operational costs.

For data center providers, most daily operations involve ensuring that data center equipment remains cooled to keep customers' critical mission applications running around the clock. Many companies have begun implementing advanced energy-saving cooling technologies: for example, natural cooling reduces electricity use, but electricity still mainly comes from traditional fuels. These energy efficiency measures are examples of data centers making positive environmental contributions to their industry and customers. Beyond energy efficiency, some European data centers have pioneered the use of 100% sustainable energy, including water, solar, and wind power.

An example of these energy efficiency practices is in Stockholm, where infrastructure has been built to reuse excess heat for home heating in the city, elevating the approach to a new level. Meanwhile, in Denmark, a data center developed groundwater cooling as an energy-saving measure. Previously, the data center's summer cooling relied on traditional refrigeration equipment. Now, a groundwater-based cooling system has been developed that can replace traditional refrigerants with geothermal energy. The result is a system usable in both summer and winter that provides sufficient cooling while significantly reducing energy consumption.

Denmark and the entire Nordic region have become leaders in energy efficiency in Europe. Some data center facilities in the region are specifically designed to utilize by-products such as excess heat, and companies like Apple and Google operating hyperscale data centers in the Nordic region have actually earned acclaim.

The massive power supply from sustainable energy sources such as hydropower and wind power combined with the cold climate makes the Nordic region an ideal place to build sustainable data centers. Due to this and the rapid growth of the Nordic market, the industry is seeing an increase in the number of hyperscale data center projects emerging in Denmark and Sweden.

Ireland is another region in Europe where energy efficiency is thriving. Ireland's mild climate makes it very suitable for natural air cooling, reducing electricity consumption by about 40% compared to typical cooling methods. Beyond energy efficiency, Ireland is also a leader in sustainable energy: in 2016, 26% of Ireland's energy production came from sustainable sources. It also has the world's third-highest wind energy penetration rate. In fact, Ireland has set a target to generate 40% of all energy from renewable sources by 2020. Although ambitious, this goal is entirely achievable.

In addition to sustainable energy, data centers operating in Ireland have made significant contributions to energy efficiency by pioneering new approaches to data center design and management, including improved power usage effectiveness and modular approaches to data center design.

Efficient and sustainable facilities have changed the conversation around data centers. Data centers were once considered sources of pollution but are now welcomed for their energy contributions to surrounding communities. Businesses hoping to operate in energy-conscious Europe have also embraced data centers that adopt green energy-saving technologies. Given the tremendous benefits to the data center industry, the environment, and local communities, it is easy to imagine these green energy initiatives as a win for everyone.

About Beijing United Intelligence Certification Co., Ltd.

Beijing United Intelligence Certification Co., Ltd. (abbreviated as UICC) is an important member unit of Beijing United Intelligence Technology Group and a well-known international, comprehensive standard certification and evaluation technical service organization. The company provides intellectual services for nearly all industry customer organizations worldwide in standardized development, informatization development, green development, innovative technology development, and carries out standard certification, review and evaluation, standard research and development, technological innovation, green ecological development, environmental protection and energy-saving technology, quality management technology, safety production technology, informatization technology, information system development, professional training, policy compliance, and technology promotion and other high-tech services.

The company has been established for more than 20 years, with a wide range of business and rich experience. It has set up more than 20 branches nationwide, providing convenient and fast customer service. It has provided certification/review/evaluation, innovation/development/research, application/promotion/training, and other technical services to more than 50,000 customers, issuing over 100,000 certificates in total.

A comprehensive guide to product after-sales service certification

Policy Compilation | Recently Released Green-Related Policies and Standards

The national zero-carbon factory policy is now in effect! United Zhiye provides precise support to help clients seize the initiative in their transformation.

Based on the strategic plan proposed by the headquarters, United Zhiye takes the upgrade of its product system as a key driver to build a three-tiered business structure—comprising “zero-carbon factory solutions + carbon-related products + integrated comprehensive services”—and thereby develop end-to-end service capabilities. The original enterprise’s integrated approach to low-carbon development has been upgraded to an integrated approach to zero-carbon development, which we regard as a milestone event. While the zero-carbon factory business focuses on deepening engagement in the manufacturing sector, the integrated approach to zero-carbon enterprise development transcends industry boundaries, extending its reach to the service sector and thus covering a broader scope of services.

For the first time, technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises have been included in the scope of tiered cultivation for high-quality SMEs.

Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the latest revised "Administrative Measures for the Tiered Cultivation of High-Quality Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises" (hereinafter referred to as the "Measures"), which have expanded the scope of cultivation by including technology-based SMEs in the tiered cultivation system for the first time. In the future, the tiered system for high-quality SMEs will encompass technology- and innovation-driven SMEs, specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative SMEs, and "Little Giant" enterprises that are specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative. The "Measures" will take effect from April 1, 2026.

Five departments jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on Carrying Out the Construction of Zero-Carbon Factories."

Recently, five departments—the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, and the National Energy Administration—jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Construction of Zero-Carbon Factories" (MIIT Joint [2026] No. 13, hereinafter referred to as the "Guiding Opinions"). These opinions aim to tap deeply into the potential for energy conservation and carbon reduction in the industrial and information technology sectors, drive carbon reduction and efficiency improvements in key industries, promote a green and low-carbon transformation, and foster the development of new-quality productive forces.

Notice on Certification Risk Management and Standard Implementation Services | Top Management of Certified Organizations Must Complete Training on the New Version of Quality Management System Certification Rules

This standardization effort will provide an in-depth interpretation of the new version of the rules and systematically analyze the significant changes and implementation requirements of the new rules in areas such as audit procedures, responsibilities of top management, evidence management, and risk control.

Understand at a Glance | Guangdong Province’s Zero-Carbon Park Development Plan

Recently, the Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, and the Guangdong Provincial Energy Administration jointly issued the "Guangdong Province Zero-Carbon Park Construction Plan."

Related Downloads