Page 51 - European Energy Innovation - summer 2019 publication

Summer 2019 European Energy Innovation 51

DATA CENTRES ENERGY EFFICIENCY

accepted the Participant status in 80 73
granted. 70 68

Participants must implement the Number of Data Centres 60
Action Plan according to an agreed
time table with Energy consumption 50
needing to be monitored regularly. 40 40
The Participant then carries out
its Action Plan, and reports at the 30 27 27
completion of the actions to the
JR, which will then review the 20 15
Participant’s report, and check
whether it corresponds to the 10 3 5 6 4
Action Plan.
0
All participants have the obligation 2.8-3.0 2.6-2.8 2.4-2.6 2.2-2.4 2.0-2.2 1.8-2.0 1.6-1.8 1.4-1.6 1.2-1.4 1.0-1.2
to continuously monitor energy
consumption and adopt energy PUE ranges
management in order to look
for continuous improvement in the Data Centre itself. From the 289 As it was to be expected, the DCs
energy efficiency. One of the key DCs evaluated in the 10-year report located in Scandinavia, traditionally
objectives of the EU DC CoC is of the CoC, the average PUE in have higher efficiencies, and here it is
that each Participant benchmark Nordic countries was of 1.71, 1.83 in no different. Also to be noted in the
their efficiency overtime, using the UK and Ireland, 1.72 in Northern/ assessment results that smaller and
the EU DC CoC metrics (or more Central Europe and 2.00 in Southern larger DCs are performing better, in
sophisticated metrics if available) Europe, which are excellent values for comparison with average DCs.
so to have evidence of continuous these regions.
improvements in efficiency. There is an increasing interest for
It is possible to see in the graph the Code of Conduct among Data
In 2018, the EU CoC has reached its below also that the great majority Centre operators, since it is the only
10 year anniversary, showing great of participating Data Centres are in independent pan European scheme
vitality, which has allowed for a the below 2.0 of PUE range, with the in the EU to certify that a Data Centre
reflexion on the achievements. biggest number of DCs being in the has adopted energy efficiency best
Below, it is possible to see the 1.6-1.8 PUE. practices. With the collection of DC
geographical distribution of the data to track efficiency improvements
EU DC CoC, reflecting well its Along the more than 11 years now, over time, the European Code of
EU-wide nature. it has been possible to see the Conduct for Energy Efficiency of Data
advantages for Data Centres, which Centres is the go-to programme for
As it should be expected with participate in the EU DC CoC. Some all of the interested parties within
different geographical, also the energy of the encouraging results relate with the Data Centre ecosystem to rely
efficiency and the PUE – Power a declining PUE on a yearly basis on, in terms of straightforward
Usage Effectiveness (which measures and an average of 1.8 for all the Data thinking and sound scientific proof
how efficiently a Data Centres uses Centres. To be noted that several that implementing this voluntary
energy1) will be very different with DCs present PUE values below 1.2, scheme will bring great benefits
north European DCs needing less which can be considered excellent. In to the developers, users and the
energy to cool down the data centre particular in the last two year the PUE environment. Benefits for participants
due to free cooling technologies, by has declined to around 1.4. In total in includes lower energy bills, reduced
using the external coodl air to cool May 2019 over 320 data centres are CO2 emissions, green image, and
approve as Participants in the EU participation in the EU DC CoC
DC CoC. Annual Award. l

[1] PUE= Total Facility Power/ IT Equipment Power. In theory a PUE = 1 is the ultimate objective of efficiency.

For general information on the Code of Conduct visit:
https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/energy-efficiency/code-conduct/datacentres
https://e3p.jrc.ec.europa.eu/communities/data-centres-code-conduct
https://e3p.jrc.ec.europa.eu/publications/2019-best-practice-guidelines-eu-code-conduct-data-centre-energy-efficiency

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