Borri Spa’s Eni Green Data Centre has been launched as one of the world’s most energy efficient data centres.

Borri Spa designed and manufactured a new generation of Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) based on its new patented technology Green Conversion to meet the requirements of Eni, propelling the environmental efficiency of its new data centre.

Eni made the decision to build a new data centre in Pavia, Italy, adjacent to Enipower’s power plant. It was to host all their data processing systems, including administrative information and high performance computing calculation systems (HPC). The goal of the project was to build a data centre for IT/HPC, IV with an annual average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) value of less than 1.2. This has made the recently inaugurated Eni Green Data Centre has become the foremost in the world for energy efficiency.

"We completed a challenging and innovative project with ambitious goals that required all the key players to think outside the box. Borri Spa created a new technology Green Conversion, proving its ability to meet this requirement. Excellence has therefore been achieved thanks to those who have shown willingness to think of something completely new," explains Michele Mazzarelli, VP project manager of the Green Data Center Program Eni.

Borri has contributed to the achievement of this ambitious goal of developing a specific high efficiency UPS for Eni.

Integral parts of the project were the tests commissioned by Eni and developed with the support of methodological analysis by the Department of Electrical Energy Engineering, University of Bologna, conducted by the TÜV.

The test results show that Borri UPS exceeded the 99.4% efficiency target, achieving a remarkable 99.46% efficiency at 50% load and 99.43% at 100% load. In addition, as required by European product standards (EN), Borri Spa have carried out all the remaining CE mark type tests, namely electromagnetic compatibility, safety and performance.

green data centre

In 2010, there were no UPS on the market with such benefits, so Eni invited major manufacturers to develop machines for this specific purpose. Borri accepted the challenge and designed a new generation of UPS, achieving the best performance in all the tests.

"Borri Spa’s contribution was not limited to the supply and installation of high-efficiency UPS, but was fundamental in the preparation of the project. I really appreciated their proactive attitude, contribution of innovative ideas, collaboration in feasibility analysis and their availability during all its phases, confirming Borri’s vocation to provide solutions to the specific needs of its customers," comments Alberto Ariatta, Project Director and Director of the Green Data Center Eni works.

Borri Spa has developed a double conversion, transformer-free 200 kW UPS, based on the innovate technology of high double conversion efficiency, which is based up to 95% on patented technology Green Conversion. It also utilises Ultra High Efficiency, reaching 99.46 % efficiency based on Borri off-line technology.

The benefits from embracing these new technologies mean low dissipation losses of the UPS, in addition to saving electrical energy, minimising room cooling by virtue of negligible heat release. Automatic or manual switching from one mode of operation to another is also always optimizing critical load power supply efficiency.

The UPS section covered by Borri consists of 50 200 kW UPS, but it is expected that an expansion will bring the UPS installed to 150 units for a total computing power of 30 MW with an energy saving of 1.5 MW.

"I am particularly proud that a completely local Italian company (from research and development to production) has been able to respond to a technological challenge proposed by Eni, patenting a new technology. Thus confirming that the development of innovative skills is an important part of our European economy,"notes Enrico Simoni, president and CTO of Borri Spa.