Constructing connections: Can hybrid power keep data centre builds on track?
To keep up with increasing data centre construction demand, a range of energy solutions are now required to break the bottlenecks that frequently lead to penalties, delays and missed deadlines. In this article, Billy Durie, Global Sector Head for Data Centres at Aggreko, explains why integrating battery energy storage systems (BESS) as part of a broader, end-to-end solution is critical to keeping up with demand.
Around the world, data centre demand is quickly outpacing supply. Savills forecasts that in Europe alone, data centre power capacity will total 9,000MW by 2025 and the number of data centres will need to increase by nearly 2.5 times. In other words, this means more than 3,000 data centres need to be built in the next year to meet demand.
Multiple factors, including the transition to working from home post-pandemic and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), have increased the need for access to data. The number of internet users in Southern Europe alone is expected to increase to 208 million by 2027, from approximately 195 million in 2023.
While this extra demand has increased the tension on those working in data centre construction, there are some common pinch points that many in the industry are familiar with. The main concern is waiting times for a grid connection, closely followed by emissions standards and clean air zones which further complicate matters. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) can work with generators to make sure data centre builds consistently achieve a steady power supply, especially during periods of peak demand.
Get in line
The data centre construction industry, like other energy-intensive builds, requires a huge amount of power. Increased need for more data centres across Europe means this demand will only continue to rise. At present, many builds are stationary, stuck in a growing queue for a grid connection. This is evidenced by the more than £200 billion worth of renewable projects waiting in line to connect to the UK’s National Grid.
In the FLAP-D markets (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Dublin), the situation is particularly strenuous. Temporary moratoriums have been placed on some new data centre builds and applications are being considered on a case-by-case basis. Even when a connection is found, a reliable power supply is difficult to find, which can cause further delays to project schedules.
After the load profile of a site has been accurately calculated, BESS can be integrated as part of a hybrid power package to minimise dependency on the grid. Instead of waiting for a grid connection, these hybrid solutions hand power control back to site managers who can avoid bottlenecks and keep operations running smoothly.
Considerate construction
Environmental and noise regulations influence the choosing of suitable equipment and operating hours for many data centres. A Stage-V generator and a BESS system, referred to as a hybrid system, can help navigate this (often changing) legislation. Hybrid systems can provide zero-emissions power in periods of low demand, including at night, when the sole power source is a battery.
To further lower emissions, these generators can be run on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and used in conjunction with renewable energy sources. Using stored energy in BESS as a back-up power source through intermittent power supplies can aid sites with fluctuating power demands or unreliable connections.
For colocation DCs, where equipment, space and bandwidth are available for rental to retail customers, operating in urban areas means noise and clean air zone restrictions are inevitable. Largely regarded as the top DC market in Europe, London data centre construction has had to get to grips with an expanding Clean Air Zone (CAZ), spotlighting the value of hybrid solutions that can adapt to current and incoming legislation.
Several businesses, particularly those involved in data centre construction, are understandably dubious about the upfront cost required to bring renewable energy sources on to site. However, lots of greener solutions, including BESS, provide a high-reward, low-risk option which facilitates sustainable construction.
For example, when powering temporary office cabins during the build phase, a hybrid solution constituting 3 x 320kVA generators and a 300kW battery can equate to sizeable reductions in fuel usage, costs and emissions. Here, an estimated 20,000 litres of fuel and 53,000kg of CO2 emissions can be saved over a two-month period.
Remote control
BESS can also be integrated with Stage-V generators to assist site managers in effectively managing power loads to ensure emission levels stay within safe limits. Additionally, remote monitoring capabilities allow site managers to optimise and analyse their load requirements for maximum carbon savings.
Thanks to BESS, builds on many colocation projects can benefit from downtime without worries about power supply disturbances. This also means data centres in urban environments can meet emission caps while staying competitive – previously difficult to manage.
Data centres constructed in urban environments are not the only projects that can benefit from incorporating BESS on-site. Projects located far from the grid in remote areas can also realise the environmental benefits of these bridging solutions to enable construction in energy insecure locations.
Occasionally, data centres are purposefully built in very remote locations, like the Nordics because of the free cooling potential.
But the power framework required to build large projects is not always available in these locations. BESS can work as a back-up solution for builds finding it difficult to achieve a stable connection while conforming to strict environmental regulations, providing reliable, emissions-free power in anticipation of a known short-term outage.
Across Europe, BESS capacity is increasing rapidly. The UK added more large-scale capacity in 2022 than any other nation and is forecast to quintuple its energy storage capacity by 2030. These large-scale investments confirm the case for BESS construction in countries with or without reliable connection to a grid – making bridging solutions as an integral part of the wider solution conversation.
