The world’s first Tropical Data Centre (TDC), which could reduce energy consumption by data centres by up to 40 percent, will soon to go on a trial run in Singapore. The TDC seeks to drive innovation and explore new green data centre technologies as part of Singapore’s Smart Nation drive.
The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), in partnership with industry and experts, will set up a data centre and operate it in a tropical environment to test its feasibility. The proof-of-concept would aim to prove, among others, whether data centres can function optimally at temperatures of up to 38 degrees Celsius and ambient humidity up to or exceeding 90 percent.
IDA is partnering Dell, ERS, Fujitsu, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Huawei, Intel, Keppel Data Centres, The Green Grid, and Nanyang Technological University for the trial.
The trial would test how data servers react under various “live” situations, such as peak surges or transferring of data, and in diverse conditions, such as with no temperature or humidity controls. The trial servers will run with simulated data.
This trial builds upon IDA’s Green Data Centre Innovation Hub initiative that is part of the Green Data Centre Programme (GDCP) launched in late 2014. The GDCP aims to boost overall data centre energy efficiency through innovation, pilot emerging technologies, and formulate new guidelines for sustainable computing. The GDCP also reaffirms Singapore’s commitment to protect the environment.
Partners are providing hardware, software and expertise for analysis. The proof-of-concept TDC will be set up in the third quarter of 2016 within a controlled test environment in a Keppel Data Centres facility.
Wong Heng Chew, President, Fujitsu Singapore said that innovation and sustainability is at the core of Fujitsu’s business along with the belief that by harnessing the power of ICT, we can solve the challenges facing society and businesses today, "Fujitsu will be providing our energy-efficient PRIMERGY servers featuring the Cool-safe® advanced thermal design. This efficient cooling system enables our PRIMERGY server’s operational temperature range to change from 10 to 35 degrees Celsius to 5 to 45 degrees Celsius. This reduces the costs of cooling, and minimizes risks of heat-related downtimes, making it highly suitable for use in our tropical environment."
If successful, the TDC could significantly reduce global energy consumption by data centres by allowing for higher operating temperatures and humidity levels. Data centres are currently cooled to between 20 to 25 degrees Celsius and kept to within 50 to 60 percent relative ambient humidity for safety. The TDCs could reduce energy costs by up to 40 percent, and reduce carbon emissions.
“Reliable and efficient data centres are key to shaping the future of smart nationsand cities, especially with billions of ‘things’ poised to be connected to the cloud.This proof-of-concept trial is important not just for Singapore; it is a critical step inaddressing the design and management of next-generation data centres in all countries with tropical temperatures and high humidity. We look forward to workingwith IDA in pushing the boundaries of data centre technology and jointly reviewingthe results of the trial later this year,” said Sumner Lemon, Country Manager, Intel Malaysia & Singapore.
“With Singapore’s continued growth as a premium hub for data centres, we want to develop new technologies and standards that allow us to operate advanced data centres in the most energy efficient way in a tropical climate,” said Khoong Hock Yun, Assistant Chief Executive, IDA.
“New ideas and approaches, such as raising either the ambient temperature or humidity, will be tested to see if these can greatly increase our energy efficiency, with insignificant impact on the critical data centre operations.”
Lei Hui, CEO, Huawei International said that, “With greater computational and storage capabilities, large and ultra-large datacenters form the backbone of technologies that are enabling Smart Nation. Yetservice providers face daunting challenges with high energy demand andmaintenance costs. Green data centers will be key to reducing energy demands,carbon emissions and maintenance expenditures.”