A data centre being built in the east of England has been recognised as one of the most energy efficient in Europe, despite not yet being open for business.
Plans for the The Elean Data Campus that is taking shape near Ely, Cambridgeshire have been recognised in the US Department of Energy and the Uptime Institute’s Global Green IT Awards, which has nominated the site as Europe’s leading energy efficient data centre.
The 65,000m2 of data centre floorspace that is planned at the unit will be powered by an existing straw-burning power station, which will give guaranteed energy savings of 40%, according to the company behind the scheme.
The Elean Data Centre will also use the waste heat from the power station to enable the use of absorption chillers, without requiring electricity.
The amount of energy used by the centre will be 34MW, around half of a normal comparable size data centre.
Elean should make power savings of 27%, representing a cost reduction of at least £14m per annum at today’s cost of energy.
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In addition, the campus will only use 100% carbon-neutral waste as a power source, reducing its environmental impact and further establishing its sustainability credentials.
Scientists estimate that the energy footprint of the internet is growing by more than 10% each year.
Alex Arthur of BNB Developments said, As internet usage increases at its current dramatic rate, there is clearly an urgent need to both reduce energy use and energy costs. The Elean Data Centre leads the way in both areas, making it a win-win solution for business and for the environment.
Work on the site, which could create about 1,000 jobs, will start within the next 12 months.
