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Power consumption and energy efficiency potentials in data centers: A case study from Switzerland

Panel: 9. Products, appliances, ICT

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Jonas Müller, TEP Energy GmbH, Switzerland
Martin Jakob, TEP Energy GmbH, Switzerland
Adrian Altenburger, Hochschule Luzern, Switzerland

Abstract

Increasing digitalization and new trends such as Internet of Things (IoT), Big data, Industry 4.0, and cloud computing lead to a considerably higher demand for data storage and computing power in data centres (DC). Further trends like outsourcing and cloud-based applications are also boosting data centres dynamics. In 2018, power consumption in data centres accounted for approximately 2.7% of the total power consumption in the EU, even more in Switzerland. At the same time, significant energy efficiency potential has been identified.

Energy efficiency measures in data centres exist for both, data centre infrastructure (cooling, ventilation, power consumption security) and IT infrastructure (storage technologies, backup systems, network, and other components). Despite the increasing importance of data centres, both in terms of energy and the economy, there is a lack of current empirical data on power consumption and existing energy efficiency potentials.

This article determines the power consumption and energy efficiency potential in Swiss data centres based on an extensive online survey. The most important parameters for estimating power consumption (installed capacity, power usage effectiveness, utilization) and energy efficiency measures (such as to increase the system temperature, adopting free cooling, using efficient storage and back-up systems), are collected from three DC segments: DC service providers, operators of in-house data centres and server rooms, and small and medium-sized enterprises. The results highlight that some efficiency potential has been tapped, partly because of promotion programs, especially on the DC infrastructure. Nevertheless, power consumption by DC steadily increased over the last years and accounts for about 3.6% of the total power consumption in Switzerland. Moreover, there are still significant energy efficiency potentials of around 46% of the total power consumption. Future demand is expected to increase even more, thus further monitoring and exploitation of remaining energy efficiency potential is crucial, particularly on the IT infrastructure.

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