With Internet and mobile traffic exploding, energy consumption by data centers has risen dramatically. Media reports suggest that data centers consume nearly 1.5 percent of all electric power. Consequently, energy consumption by data centers has caught the attention of IT managers and administrators who are constantly looking at new green technologies to make these facilities more energy-efficient and cost-effective in maintenance.
In fact, the challenge for data center managers in their quest to go green is to increase utilization, availability and compute densities while lowering costs associated with cooling and maintenance. At the recent ABB Automation & Power World, Jeff Hudgins (News - Alert), vice president of marketing for NEI, outlined the benefits of a smart end-to-end direct current (DC) power architecture that converts alternating current (AC) utility power to DC for further distribution inside the center. “This is where 380V DC enters the picture with fewer components, reduced cooling needs, and fewer heat-related outages,” Hudgins added.
At the ABB event, NEI featured the D-Series 380V DC platform solution within the IO.Anywhere data module supported by appliance deployment. This fully integrated modular data center system powered by ABB’s DC technology provides unprecedented flexibility, reliability, and energy efficiency. The interest was high as NEI (News - Alert) fielded questions throughout the week about 380V DC server technology and appliance deployment from both customers and partners.
Besides the talk on DC versus AC power distribution in data centers, the ABB Automation & Power World, which was spread across 130,000 sq. ft. of the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Tex., featured the latest technology advancements by ABB and its technology partners. According to ABB, the ABB Automation & Power World show floor showcased everything from robotics to data center solutions, including the benefits of appliance deployment.
Clearly the star of the show was the IO.Anywhere modular data center parked in the center of the show room floor. According to ABB, it was the largest and most impressive display with a consistent steady flow of people.
Edited by Jamie Epstein