.gif)
.gif)
Industry News
May 31, 2012
ABB and Green Datacenter AG Launch State-of-the-art Data Center Employing HP Servers
ABB and Green Datacenter AG, an information and communications technology (ITC) service provider in Switzerland, announced the official opening of Green’s new Zurich-West data center expansion based on dc technology.
Green’s facility, which employs HVDC-capable HP servers, is the most powerful application of dc in a data center to date. Performance tests showed that Green’s new power distribution system is 10 percent more efficient than for comparable ac technology. In addition, investment costs for the system were 15 percent lower than for an ac system.
With the addition of almost six million new servers every year, data center energy demand is increasing at a rate of more than 10 percent annually, requiring more efficient and reliable solutions. DC systems are less complex than ac systems, making fewer power conversions. This requires as much as 25 percent less space, and reduces equipment, installation, and real estate and maintenance costs.
"Across all our business areas, customers are asking for improved reliability and energy efficiency, and DC power is an effective solution," said Tarak Mehta, head of ABB’s Low Voltage Products division. "Zurich West will serve as a global showcase to demonstrate that DC is a complementary technology in data centers as it enhances reliability while minimizing footprint, installation and maintenance costs."
"The implementation of 380 volt dc technology in our data center is part of our long-term energy optimization strategy, a big step that has set a new standard in the industry," said Franz Grueter, CEO of Green. "When fully loaded, the system will result in energy savings of up to 20 percent in power consumption from grid to chip and in cooling."
Opinion: Maximising Synergies between Power Electronics and ICT for improving Energy Efficiency
ABB installed the one megawatt dc power distribution solution for the 1,100 m2 expansion of the 3,300 m² Zurich-West data center. It was engineered to Green’s strict ecological standards by ABB with support from Validus DC Systems, an ABB company, and includes a service level agreement.
The project underlines ABB’s goal to create new power options through expanded dc applications. The company pioneered technologies that made conversion between ac and dc systems possible and was the first to commercialize long distance high-voltage dc power transmission. ABB is now applying dc to medium- and low-voltage applications in electric vehicle charging, power distribution systems on ships, in building and in data centers.
HP provided the HVDC-enabled IT for this technology showcase, including servers and storage, such as the HP X1800 G2 Network Storage System, HP DL385 servers, and the HP BladeSystem c3000. These systems represent the beginning of HP’s strategy to enable the enterprise IT portfolio with support for high-voltage dc.
"Green was looking for an IT partner that could provide HVDC-enabled IT solutions to meet its specific data-center needs," said Ron Noblett, vice president, Infrastructure and Storage, HP. "At the heart of HP’s Converged Infrastructure strategy is our commitment to develop new energy-saving technologies that can lower data-center capital costs, as well as ongoing operations costs and complexity."
More news and information regarding the latest developments in Smart Grid electronics can be found at Darnell’s SmartGridElectronics.Net.
Share this story
Send via E-mail
Post to Twitter
On the Web:
White Papers
March 11, 2013
Power Modules for Charger Applications
Sponsored by Vincotech
February 27, 2013
The Adaptive Cell Converter Topology Enables Constant Efficiency Over Universal Input AC Line in Front-End, High-Density Power Factor Correction Applications
Sponsored by Vicor Corp.
February 27, 2013
From 48 V direct to Intel VR12.0: Saving "Big Data" $500,000 per datacenter, per year
Sponsored by Vicor Corp.
More White Papers
- Altera Acquires Enpirion for $140 Million, Forms Power Business Unit
- PowerbyProxi Joins Wireless Power Consortium
- SiC Modules, IGBTs and Super-Junction MOSFETs Introduced on Day One of PCIM
- SiC and GaN Again a Major Focus at PCIM Europe
- Ericsson Saves Board Space with Surface-Mount Digital Bus Converter
- Vincotech and Infineon Introduce New Packaging Options at PCIM Europe
- Bosch Claims First Sub-$450 240V EV Charging Station
- DOE Selects Consortium to Develop Next-Generation Batteries for Automobiles
- Gate Drive Optocouplers for High-Speed SiC FETs Deliver up to 2.5A
- Eaton and CA Technologies Join to Deliver Infrastructure Management for Data Centers
- Power-One Gets $1 Billion – ABB Gets Inverters
- Renesas Adds IGBT Drivers with Micro-Isolator for Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Inverters
- Bosch Claims First Sub-$450 240V EV Charging Station
- Alpha and Omega Delivers "Lowest" On-Resistance in a DFN5x6 with 150V Power MOSFET
- Microchip Expands 8-bit PIC Microcontroller Family with Intelligent Analog Integration
- 500W Full-Brick DC-DC Converter Optimized for Fuel Cell Applications
- Factory to Produce Lithium-Ion Battery Materials Enabling 10-Year Life and 60,000 Cycles
- Europeans Establish Dueling Projects to Advance Power Electronics Technologies
- 1-Watt DC-DC Achieves 88% Efficiency and has MSL 1 Moisture-Sensitivity Rating
- Alpha and Omega Expands Family of EZBuck Regulators Featuring Constant On-Time Control
- Green Building Power Forum 2010: Fujitsu Components America
- Darnell's Digital Power Forum 2009: CUI Incorporated
- Green Building Power Forum 2010: EMerge Alliance
- Green Building Power Forum 2010: Anderson Power Products
- Green Building Power Forum 2009: Independence Station
- Darnell's Digital Power Forum 2009: Coilcraft
- Darnell's Digital Power Forum 2009: Champs Technologies
- Darnell's Digital Power Forum 2009: EXAR Corporation
- Darnell's Digital Power Forum 2009: PMBus
- Darnell's Digital Power Forum 2009: Power Plaza
Design Features
October 22, 2012
Energy Efficiency with Class D Amplifier Modules
Class-D switching amplifiers are helping audio designers create personal multimedia devices and home audio/visual systems that demonstrate how compact and stylish equipment can also deliver high sound quality and high audio output power. The key to this breakthrough, providing freedom from the large and bulky boxes housing traditional audio products, lies in the class-D amplifier’s high energy efficiency, which is typically around 90%. This allows designers to reduce or eliminate heatsinks as well as using smaller-sized PCBs and smaller components such as transformers, connectors and power supplies.
Design Features
October 8, 2012
The Role of Hall Effect Sensors in Power Distribution Infrastructure
Power distribution units (PDUs) form an essential part of modern computing and data communications hardware. They provide multiple outputs for transferring electrical power with maximum efficiency, controlling the power capacity and safeguarding against the possible causes of supply interruption. With an ever increasing need from tech savvy consumers for higher data throughput and greater quantities of data storage capacity, as well as tough international legislation now governing CO&sub2; emissions, the demands being placed on these units are proving challenging for engineering teams to satisfy.
Product Focus
August 13, 2012
The Year in AC-DC Power Supply Technology
The past year witnessed significant new product releases, technological developments, and industry news related to the field of AC-DC Power Supply technology.