HP reveals net-zero energy data centre research

31 May 2012

HP is claiming to have come up with game-changing data centre architecture that can help companies reduce their power usage by 30pc, as well as their dependence on grid power and costs by more than 80pc.

How? HP Labs, the company’s central research arm, has been carrying out research to show how the new data centre architecture, which it is calling the HP Net-Zero Energy Data Center, would require no net energy from traditional power grids.

According to HP, such architecture would enable businesses to operate data centres in the future using local renewable resources.

The ultimate aim, it appears, is to lower companies’ dependencies on location, energy supply and costs.

Apparently, the HP Net-Zero Energy Data Center architecture would integrate energy and cooling supply from local renewable sources, with a demand-management approach.

The aim is to match energy supply with demand from IT workloads

HP said data centres could, in the future, be designed in such a way so they can be stand-alone micro-grids powered by renewable resources such as solar, wind or water.

The company gave the example of how non-critical workloads could be scheduled during daylight hours to coincide with solar supply for data centres that are equipped with photovoltaic energy generation.

HP said its data centre at HP Labs headquarters in Palo Alto, California, was used as the initial test bed for this new type of data centre.

The company will be showcasing its new data centre architecture at HP Discover in Las Vegas between 4–7 June.

Carmel Doyle was a long-time reporter with Silicon Republic

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