Aggreko Calls for Reinforced Data Centre Cooling Capacity
As the weather heats up, data centre operators are being encouraged to prepare for summer heat by working with specialists to supplement cooling in emergencies, maintenance and upgrades.
Global leader in energy solutions, Aggreko, has warned that the combination of rising temperatures and ageing infrastructure could significantly impact uptime on industrial, commercial and retail sites across the UK.
This comes as the UK experiences another heatwave, with some regions expected to be hotter than the Caribbean this week. Temperatures exceeding 25°C (77°F) are now becoming increasingly common throughout the country, placing vulnerable people at risk.
The impact of climate change on data centres
Aggreko says older equipment, or legacy infrastructure, is significantly impacted by changing weather, as it isn’t designed to operate in higher temperatures. The company says that higher temperatures ultimately put these systems at higher risk of overheating, which could lead to them failing.
For a data centre industry that heavily relies on uptime, this isn’t welcome news.
The chance of a breakdown drastically increases if equipment hasn’t been properly maintained, with Aggreko noting that blocked condenser coils potentially force a system to overwork to the point of compressor failure.
In the data centre sector, even a brief failure in cooling systems could lead to catastrophic consequences. Without adequate temperature control, Aggreko says overheating can lead to hardware damage, data loss and service outages – which results in severe financial penalties.
As temperatures in countries like the UK and the Republic of Ireland continue to spike, Chris Smith, head of temperature control for UK and Ireland at Aggreko, calls upon data centre operators to assess their cooling capacity to ensure that critical operations remain uninterrupted.
He says: “If recent temperatures are anything to go by, then this summer is set to bring even more extreme conditions capable of driving equipment to the point of failure.
“If facilities rely on ageing HVAC systems to keep processes ticking, then the risk of breakdowns during heatwaves only increases.”
Prioritising better temperature control
Aggreko prides itself on understanding the challenges of critical temperature applications, with its team of technical experts helping to determine the temporary and supplementary cooling, heating and dehumidification solutions required based on a project, location and temperature requirements.
The company recently boosted its HVAC support by appointing Chris as a new UK temperature control head to strengthen industrial cooling support, particularly as extreme weather poses data centre challenges.
Aggreko’s strategy is to remain committed to improving industrial cooling support, particularly for industrial HVAC contractors facilities management companies.
Chris adds: “Working with a specialist in both HVAC and power can be the real difference maker. Doing so provides contractors with the opportunity to leverage specialist expertise and tailored solutions that address immediate cooling needs and safeguard operations against the risks posed by extreme temperatures.”
The company’s cooling provision spans industrial chillers ranging from 50kW to 1500 kW, air conditioners in sizes from 50kW to 200kW and cooling towers with single units from 2500kW or combined units for multi-megawatt projects.
With its unique market position, Aggreko can support decision-makers by leveraging its Energising Change framework, which has been designed to facilitate what it calls ‘a commercially viable energy transition’.
This includes turnkey solutions that bridge the gap between power provision, fuel management and transportation and developing renewable infrastructure for the future.
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