Data Center and Power Consumption
Data centers are projected to account for 9% of the United States' electricity consumption by 2030, double the current amount, according to a study published by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).
This growth is primarily driven by the increasing demand for computing power due to artificial intelligence (AI). AI-related tasks, such as queries, require about ten times the electricity of traditional internet searches, and the creation of original content like music, photos, and videos demands even more energy, EPRI noted.
The electricity load of U.S. data centers is expected to rise to nearly 21 GW this year, up from 19 GW in 2023, as reported by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). By the end of the decade, data center electricity demand in the U.S. is anticipated to reach 35 GW, according to the FERC report. ~ www.utilitydive.com/news/artificial-intelligence-doubles-data-center-demand
What Is PUE — and How Is It Calculated?
According to TechTarget, PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) is a crucial metric for assessing a data center's energy efficiency. It is calculated by dividing the total power consumed by the facility by the power used specifically for IT equipment. Servers are the largest consumers of energy, accounting for about 40% of a data center's total power usage, followed by power and cooling systems at 39%.
A lower PUE indicates greater energy efficiency, with a score closer to 1.0 being ideal. Consequently, organizations strive to reduce their PUE score to enhance their energy efficiency. Currently, data centers have an average PUE of 1.57, according to Gartner, though some newer facilities manage to achieve scores as low as 1.3 or even lower.
Google sets a remarkable standard with a PUE of 1.1 across its large data centers. Microsoft reports a PUE of 1.22 for its existing facilities and 1.12 for newer ones. While specific figures for AWS are not readily available, it is said to be 3.6 times more energy-efficient than the average U.S. data center. ~ device42.com/blog/
Power Supply and Data Center
Power supplies within a data center play a crucial role in ensuring that the entire facility operates efficiently and reliably.
The 3 main functions are:
Most of the equipment in a data center, such as servers, storage devices, and networking equipment, runs on Direct Current (DC) power. However, the utility grid provides Alternating Current (AC) power. The power supply units (PSUs) in data centers are responsible for converting AC power from the grid into the DC power required by the equipment.
Power supplies help ensure that the voltage delivered to data center equipment is stable and within the required range. This prevents equipment from being damaged by power surges, drops, or fluctuations, which can lead to downtime or data loss.
Data centers often use redundant power supplies in a configuration called N+1 or 2N, where multiple power supplies are in place to ensure that if one fails, another can take over without causing any interruptions. This redundancy is crucial for maintaining uptime and service availability.
Energy Consumption
The energy consumption of a data center can vary widely depending on its design, the type of equipment used, and its overall efficiency.
To better understand the different types of data centers, let's break down the three main categories and their typical applications:
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1. Enterprise Data Centers
Owned, built, and operated by individual companies, these data centers are tailored to meet the specific needs of the organization. They are ideal for businesses with unique network requirements or those looking to leverage economies of scale.
2. Colocation Data Centers
Operated by third-party providers, colocation data centers offer space, power, cooling, and physical security to multiple businesses. They allow companies to bypass the costs and complexities of constructing and managing their own data centers.
3. Cloud Data Centers
These large-scale facilities are run by cloud service providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. They offer on-demand access to computing and storage resources via the internet.
Case Study:
Typical Data Center Power Consumption in kW:
Small/Medium Data Centers can have power needs between 50 kW and 150 kW. A small data center may be used for specific enterprise needs or regional operations.
Medium-Sized Data Centers: Generally have power requirements in the range of 150 kW to 500 kW. This size would support a larger number of servers and equipment, including networking infrastructure, storage systems, and necessary cooling solutions.
Annual Power Consumption (kWh)
To calculate annual energy usage, consider that the power consumption is typically constant (or nearly constant) if the data center operates 24/7.
100 kW data center:
100?kW×24?hours/day×365?days/year=876,000?kWh/year
500 kW data center:
A 500 kW data center would consume 4.38 million kWh per year.
Cost of energy:
Commercial energy rates in Alberta can range from 6 to 12 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Lets go with the average of 9 cents.
Summarizing the above you can calculate the savings to be had when utilizing a 97% efficient power supply over the standard high-end efficiency rating of 95%.
Power?consumed = Efficiency/Energy?delivered
@ 95% efficiency Power Consumed = 921,053 kWh/y
@ 97% efficiency Power Consumed = 904,123 kWh/y
Energy?savings = 921,053?904,123 = 16,930?kWh/year
This equates to a savings in operating costs of $1500/year of a medium-small enterprise data center.
Mathew Reid