According to the coalition agreement, new data centers should be designed to be climate-neutral from 2027. However, the necessary framework conditions are not yet sufficiently in place. With targeted measures, companies can meet the requirements at an early stage and do justice to the market of tomorrow. The course for this should already be set at the planning stage.
In 2024, Earth Overshoot Day fell on August 1 - one day earlier than the previous year. Earth Overshoot Day marks the day on which humanity has used up all the natural resources that the earth can provide within a year. Advancing digitalization plays a major role in this: in Germany alone, the energy-intensive data centers alone consumed 17.9 billion kilowatt hours in 2022, 3.7 percent of Germany's electricity consumption - significantly more than the city of Berlin. Increasing demands, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and the use of internet-based data continue to drive up energy requirements. However, IT infrastructure technology is constantly evolving and becoming ever more efficient. While IT connection capacity increased by 90 percent between 2010 and 2022, electricity consumption only increased by around 63 percent. The Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG), which took effect on November 18, 2023, aims to further increase this efficiency. New and existing data centers must now comply with energy efficiency standards for the first time from 2024 and are therefore facing a number of challenges. All energy-relevant systems must make their contribution - from the IT strategy and the use of renewable energies to the use of waste heat and the recycling of raw materials.
Energy efficiency does not work without partners
A basic requirement for the energy transition is technical open-mindedness and a targeted examination of new developments and their impact on energy efficiency. Where are there industrial consumers that can be supplied with waste heat? Which building design reduces energy consumption most effectively? How can innovative cooling concepts be implemented efficiently? Operators must ask themselves all these questions at an early stage and include them in their planning.
An important pillar is the cooperation between science and experienced practical partners who work innovatively and at the cutting edge. One assessment criterion for energy efficiency that is becoming increasingly important is the Blue Angel eco-label for data centers. The Blue Angel is not only a unique selling point (only four data centers have been certified to date), but also a relevant assessment criterion for climate-neutral data centers, as required by the EnEfG from 2027. Accredited practice partners are officially authorized to provide advice and support in this regard.
A key indicator for the efficiency of data centers is the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE). The PUE value describes the ratio of the electrical power used for the entire data center (DC) in relation to the electrical power of the IT components. The lower this value, all the better. For standard systems on the market, the PUE value is between 1.2 and 2. Modern data centers such as the Nexspace data center in Heidelberg Innovation Park can already achieve values below 1.2 at full capacity. Data centers that will be launched from 2026 are even obliged to achieve a PUE of ≤ 1.2 to be maintained. A proof of concept can help to check the feasibility of a data center project at an early stage, taking into account the relevant key figures and laws. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis in the Digital Twin, for example, shows exactly where warm and cold air flows and which design saves cooling energy. In the data center in Heidelberg mentioned above, for example, cooling is provided by district cooling from the municipal utility company, which is generated from renewable sources in the power plant.
The use of waste heat is also an important component in terms of “climate neutrality” and is regulated by the EnEfG. The heat generated during IT operations can be used as CO2-neutral energy, for example to heat residential or commercial buildings, once it has been raised to the appropriate temperature level. Experienced data center developers take the necessary interfaces for waste heat utilization into account as early as the building planning stage and mediate between the heat generators and consumers.
In some cases, the Energy Efficiency Act already makes green electricity mandatory: as of this year, 50 percent and, from 2027, 100 percent of electricity must come from renewable energy sources. One solution here is a mix of on-site sources such as photovoltaics and off-site sources via electricity supply contracts with proof of origin from Germany and Europe.
Sustainability should be considered as early as possible
The course for resource-conserving operation is already set during the planning of a new data center. The cradle-to-cradle principle applies during construction, i.e. a continuous and consistent raw material cycle based on nature's example. For example, a life cycle analysis (LCA) in the Digital Twin can help to extend the product life cycle of individual raw materials in accordance with the German Circular Economy Act and minimize the environmental impact of a data center. In structural design, simulations make it possible to optimize cross-sections and select the right materials. CO2-reduced concrete, the optimized use of steel, uncoated wood-based materials and green insulation materials support sustainable construction.
In addition to photovoltaic systems for additional on-site power generation, green façades and roofs are also quite common in modern data centers these days. Special plant species can absorb a large amount of CO2. The green areas also provide natural façade cooling. Water-saving measures and smart water management should also be planned at an early stage. Rainwater can be collected underground, for example, and then used for irrigation as required. The targeted implementation of these measures brings the efficiency targets much closer. This leads to a better ecological footprint for the entire data center industry - to the benefit of operators, customers and the environment.
This article was first published in IT-Mittelstand magazine, issue 9 | 2024. Click here to download it for free (only german language).
Title picture: © Stratocaster #445371580 / stock.adobe.com (Standard licence)
