Eaton-Williams helps data centre to achieve zero carbon emissions
Helping a data centre in Iceland to become the first in the world to achieve zero carbon emissions is a free-cooling solution developed by Eaton-Williams. Working with Colt, which provided modular data-centre facilities, Eaton-Williams designed and commissioned a bespoke fresh-air free-cooling system for year-round operation without mechanical cooling or chillers.
The system was design for Verne Global’s co-location data centre at Keflavik and constructed using Colt’s established modular design. The site is far from any volcanic activity, with arctic breezes and the Gulf Stream pushing any volcanic effects away from the site.
Average low and high temperatures at the site are around 0 and 14°C.
Electricity for the site is generated from hydro and geothermal sources.
Eaton-Williams designed the HVAC system for this Tier 3 data centre, which has over 23 000 m2 of technical space in racks with power densities from 4 to over 16 kW. The N+1 system is based around 12 CTF cooling modules based on systems for Colt’s own modular data centre in north London (more on the MBS web site). Primary cooling is based delivering air from outside the building. Each unit has several variable-speed EC fans to match to the cooling demand to minimise energy use and provide N+1 resilience.
Conditions in the data centre are maintained at 18 to 27°C and 30 to 70% RH. The HVAC system contributes to an overall PUE (power usage effectiveness) of 1.21.
