How are ABB and IPD Driving Sustainable Data Centres?

In Australia, there are currently over 300 data centres in 2025, with the industry pledging to make efforts towards making data centres more sustainable by utilising energy efficient, on-site renewables and smarter cooling. 

As the world continues to increase its digital presence with the likes of AI, cloud computing and digital services, data centre consumption is rapidly increasing. 

According to the Australia Data Center Construction Market Forecast Report 2025-2034, the market is set to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 7% within the next nine years. Therefore, companies in Australia are looking to find ways to use less energy and run more efficiently.

Two major companies pioneering sustainable data centres are ABB and IPD, who are working together to transform the landscape with ultra-low harmonic (ULH) variable speed drives (VSDs), to deliver reliable, optimised and environmentally friendly mission-critical infrastructure.

Australian sustainable data centres in 2030

As the world continues to increase its digital presence with the likes of AI, cloud computing and digital services, data centre consumption is rapidly increasing. 

The need for sustainable data centres has never been more crucial with the International Energy Agency (IEA) claiming that the demands from AI data centres are predicted to quadruple by 2030. Australian data centres are expected to account for almost 15% of Large Industrial Load (LIL) consumption by 2033-34.

ABB presents a solution to these demands, with its ULH drives helping operators reduce energy consumption by 25% in non peak hours. The ULH allows for this reduction by smartly adjusting cooling systems dependent on server loads and environmental conditions.

Josh Paikada, Drive Products Segment Manager at ABB, says: “Reducing fan or pump speed by just 20% can save up to 50% in energy.

“Our ULH drives not only enhance cooling efficiency but also mitigate harmful harmonics that can compromise electrical infrastructure.”

Currently, standard drives generate almost 40% total harmonic distortion (THDi) ; however, ABB’s ULH drives are able to reduce the THDi to under 3%.

As a result, electrical losses are drastically reduced while the need for oversized transformers, generators and cabling are removed. 

The solution offered by ABB means that there is a reduction in material usage, a decreased carbon footprint and significant cost savings. 

Michael Linden, National Business Development Manager at IPD, says: “Our partnership with ABB ensures data centres benefit from compliant, high-performance drives that meet the strictest global standards while supporting long-term sustainability goals.”

How ABB is supporting data centre operators in Australia

As it stands, ABB has distributed the ACH580 ULH across Australian major data centre projects including high-profile installations.

The ULH from ABB is one of the latest innovative solutions which is equipped for the future and improves power quality, decreases energy waste and supports intelligent infrastructure design.

ABB offers a multiple of solutions, supporting data centres in three key ways.

With the number of IoT devices increasing, data centres must deliver high reliability and uptime. Through ABB’s advanced monitoring and remote support operators can proactively manage infrastructure, address potential issues before they escalate and reduce service interruptions.

As seen in Australia, enhancing energy efficiency is central to reducing data centre power consumption and carbon emissions whilst creating long-term cost savings. Adopting digital monitoring tools and high-efficiency tech, like the ULH, operators can optimise energy use.

Finally, data centres must deliver both scalability and speed. To help operators scale with agility, ABB’s modular and prefabricated systems enable deployment up to 50% faster, reduce on-site labour requirements and support a flex pay-as-you-grow model that aligns capacity with demand.

Giampiero Frisio, President, ABB Electrification, explains: “ABB is leading the development of the key new power distribution technologies that will create the next generation of data centres. 

“We have been an early investor in the cutting-edge UPS, DC and solid-state electronics that will enable data centres to stay ahead of AI’s growing power demands.”