Cost-efficiency in energy-efficient data center

Abstract

Data centres' increasing energy consumption is a real matter, and a need for Green Data Centres arisen. The cost efficiency of energy efficient solutions has to be assessed to gain wider adoption.

This thesis aims at reviewing the possible improvements from all part of the infrastructure a technical description and an economic analysis is provided for all the suggestions. The power distribution can be improved by more efficient and modular UPSs, HVDC, by removing the UPSs or using renewable energies. The cooling system can be improved by better airflow management, free-cooling, liquid cooling, district cooling or heat reuse.

Other improvements come from IT equipment or guidelines like modular deployments, Tier-modular facilities or well-chosen locations. Other non-technical or financial matters, preventing from adoption, have been identified thanks to interviews. All these solutions decrease OPEX, sometimes they also decrease CAPEX. Their global cost efficiency tends to be more and more assessed.