Data centres must adapt to the energy transition

The transition to renewables-based energy generation presents new challenges for both grid operators and consumers. The intermittent nature of renewable energy generation, which is largely reliant on the weather, calls for flexibility in both demand and generation to balance the grid where the energy mix contains a greater proportion of renewables. This is the view of Lucy Plant, Manager Strategic Partnerships, Energy Solutions at Enel X.

Large energy users like data centres are continuing to adapt to this energy transition. Data centre operators have already tackled energy efficiency savings by optimising servers and cooling equipment. To become even better grid citizens and to achieve a low-carbon agenda they must work in partnership with the grid to help keep their systems running and the lights on for the rest of us.

There are many pathways to low-carbon energy and data centre operators must decide which strategy is right for them. Options include participating in flexibility services like demand response, battery storage, and contractual agreements with green energy suppliers. Each option helps data centres become good grid citizens, plus there’s an added bonus that participating in demand response presents revenue generating opportunities.

While renewable energy sources are intermittent, they are largely predictable. To modulate fluctuating generation and demand, grid operators need active participation from their largest energy users to increase grid security and stability of supply. Demand Side Response (DSR) is a powerful and effective strategy that incentivises data centres to free up grid capacity when it is needed most.

For data centres, DSR participation can look like switching to their own backup generation and battery storage to reduce demand during peak period emergencies. This might be on a cold, still winter evening when wind generation is low and demand is high.

Through DSR, data centre operators can offer flexibility to help balance the grid and accommodate more green energy on the system. DSR also provides a safe way for data centres to test back-up systems while the grid is available, increasing their resilience should an unexpected grid outage happen. Data centre operators that participate in DSR programmes see it as a way to mitigate interruptions to the power source, rather than a threat to uptime.

The reward for data centres is a revenue opportunity for simply being available. This valuable income can help offset energy costs or invest in further low-carbon measures. DSR has proven to be a successful, cost-effective strategy for grid operators for several years and, when managed effectively, doesn’t adversely impact data centre operations.

Battery energy storage systems

A highly versatile asset for any data centre is its battery energy storage system (BESS). It solves multiple challenges from operational needs, providing standby power for resilience and recovery during a power failure, improving the quality of power, or storing energy generated on site. If the stored energy is not required by the data centre or there is spare capacity, it can be used to support the grid. Microsoft has successfully used battery storage at one of its data centres in Ireland to support EirGrid. It has participated in a market for grid services that prioritises non-carbon-emitting solutions. Microsoft participates in this market through Enel X, which aggregates industrial and commercial energy consumers into virtual power plants.

Data centre operators are also showing strong leadership on corporate renewable procurement with many looking to buy Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

PPAs enable data centres to procure long-term contracts with operators of renewable assets. These contracts help data centres to move towards decarbonisation targets and enhance their corporate reputation. PPAs also directly support the development of renewables infrastructure and an increase in renewable generation on the grid system.

As large energy consumers, data centres have the potential to make a tremendous impact on grid innovation and sustainability.

Working with a skilled energy management partner ensures that appropriate plans and technology are in place to help data centres optimise their energy flexibility and become good grid citizens. Support can help to monetise the flexibility of energy assets, reduce costs, optimise revenue from onsite energy storage and generation and implement other efficiency measures like power purchase agreements

Billions of pounds’ worth of green energy projects are on hold because they cannot plug into the UK’s electricity system

A number of key solar and windfarm sites are waiting up to 10 to 15 years to be connected because of a lack of capacity in the grid system, suggests a new report.

Renewable energy companies worry it could threaten UK climate targets. National Grid, which manages the system, acknowledges the problem but says fundamental reform is needed.

The UK currently has a 2035 target for 100% of its electricity to be produced without carbon emissions. But meeting the target will require a big increase in the number of renewable projects across the country. It is estimated as much as five times more solar and four times as much wind is needed.

The government and private investors have spent £198bn on renewable power infrastructure since 2010. But now energy companies are warning that significant delays to connect their green energy projects to the system will threaten their ability to bring more green power online.

A new wind farm or solar site can only start supplying energy to people’s homes once it has been plugged into the grid.

Energy companies like Octopus Energy, one of Europe’s largest investors in renewable energy, say they have been told by National Grid that they need to wait up to 15 years for some connections - far beyond the government’s 2035 target.

There are currently more than £200bn worth of projects sitting in the connections queue, the BBC reports.

Around 40% of them face a connection wait of at least a year, according to National Grid’s own figures. Delayed investments cost industry millions of pounds.

The problem is so many new renewable projects are applying for connections, the grid cannot keep up. The system was built when just a few fossil fuel power plants were requesting a connection each year, but now there are 1,100 projects in the queue.

Energy Networks Association represents the UK’s network operators, such as DNOs, which connect people’s homes to the main system owned by National Grid. It says that the government needs to speed up the planning process so electricity infrastructure can be built more quickly.

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: “We recognise the challenge of connection delays.”

250 kVA package of three diesel gensets delivered

Cardiff Pumping Station needed to upgrade its power supply and replace its four existing 46-yearold Blackstone generators that support their water flow pumps.

The existing generators were no longer fit for purpose, as they could not support load sharing and did not synchronise, reports WW.

Cardiff Pumping Station is a combined station that passes through 500 – 1200 litres of water per second on a dry day, known as ‘normal dry weather flows’. However, in storm conditions, this could increase by 3-6 times.

Shenton Group was one of three generator suppliers approached by ARUP on behalf of Welsh Water to assist with the initial designs and feasibility. Along with offering a turnkey project where they would also remove the old equipment, the design the Shenton Group put forward remopved the need for rental generators and reduced the amount of cable, which would save the client £250,000.

This ultimately lead Shenton to win the project, says the company. Altogether, the Shenton Group has provided three 1.25 MVA prime rated generators in N+1 configuration in 75 @ 1m acoustic enclosure.

Welsh Water is the sixth largest of the ten regulated water and sewerage companies in England and Wales. It is responsible for providing over three million people with a continuous, high quality supply of drinking water and for taking away, treating and properly disposing of the wastewater that is produced.