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8 Tips to Reduce Costs of Data Centre Energy Bills

By Blog, Thought Leadership

Operating a data centre is expensive, but energy consumption is vital to the ongoing expenses of a data centre, which is one of the reasons why the industry is making such a drive for sustainability.

Today, the most significant cost of running a data centre is energy, with the average data centre spending 25% to 60% of its total expenses on energy consumption alone in the UK. It illustrates the need to act by integrating green technologies into new and legacy data centres.

What uses the most energy in a data centre?

Energy consumption is the biggest expense involved in running a data centre. This is because of the immense costs of running servers and the necessary cooling infrastructure. In fact, data centre energy consumption has grown so much that it now accounts for 3% of the global electricity supply.

So, what are the largest contributors to your data centre energy bill?

Servers/IT Equipment – Servers, storage and networking devices and peripherals are the largest energy consumers in data centres.
Cooling – Data centres generate massive amounts of heat. Advanced cooling systems, including chillers and air conditioning units, are required to prevent overheating.
Power Distributions – Data centres rely on Power Distribution Units (PDUs), including Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSs), to distribute electricity and provide emergency power if outages occur.
Lighting – Whilst lighting doesn’t consume as much energy as servers and cooling systems, permanent lighting is required for maintenance, monitoring and accessibility. This fact alone means lighting contributes a large chunk to your energy expenditure.

Can data centres reduce their energy consumption?

Data centres can take action to reduce their energy consumption. Although data centres will always consume significant energy, taking steps can result in massive cost savings.
Actions like upgrading legacy technology, recycling old systems and using renewable energy sources are ways that data centres can tackle the sustainability issue.
Additionally, new data centres can focus on sustainability as part of a genuinely green data centre. The Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact has already been established to set firm guidelines as to what constitutes a sustainable data centre.
For existing data centres, the path to sustainability will likely be a long-term endeavour because legacy hardware may need to be replaced within the boundaries of current budgets.

Tips on how to reduce costs of data centre energy bills

Utility bills are no small expense. Whilst some data centres may concede these as unavoidable expenses, creative problem-solving and a real commitment to sustainability can save data centres tens of thousands annually.
Follow these tips for some simple ways to reduce the cost of data centre energy bills:
1

Integrate modern cooling systems

Cooling systems are an enormous drain on your resources. Some estimates state that inefficient data centres could spend up to 60% of their utility bills on cooling alone.
By introducing next-generation cooling solutions however, companies can decrease their utility bills. Some ideas could include:
  • Deploying hot/cold aisle configurations.
  • Minimising bypass airflow.
  • Investing in air handlers and chillers.
Doing away with legacy cooling systems can reduce your energy wastage and allow you to take more control over environmental conditions, including temperature and humidity.
2

Software-powered smart design

Experts know that data centre efficiency boils down to choosing the solutions that cover the greatest workload with the lowest number of hardware pieces.
Identifying underutilised pieces of equipment and removing underused applications can lower your energy costs across the board. It’s also possible to remove “bloatware” from the equation.
Bloatware is ineffectual software that drains power from your data centre due to excessive CPU cycles.
In other words, software-powered smart design is based on limiting hardware and doing more with less.
3

Leveraging server virtualisation

Server virtualisation is a powerful tool enabling you to consolidate servers and storage as part of a single platform. Virtualisation allows you to segregate applications, data and operating systems.
Running applications on shared hardware via virtual machines reduces your need for space, more power, more cooling and more resources.
Note that server virtualisation cannot solve all of your problems. For example, you may still require underutilised equipment to handle peak loads. Either way, virtualisation still contributes to efficiently migrating your data centre’s workload.
4

Controlling airflow management

Airflow management is another crucial energy efficiency practice. For example, if your data centre has raised floors, there’s a strong possibility that you are experiencing uncontrolled air leakage. Sealing these raised floors and removing unnecessary blockages within would be one solution.
What if clutter control and underfloor blockages are irresolvable problems? In this case, consider installing overhead cable trays. According to Schneider Electric, overhead cable trays lead to a 24% reduction in cooling fan power consumption.
5

Switch to variable-speed fans

Another option for decreasing energy usage is moving to variable-speed fans. This move could provide a much-needed CPU fan speed reduction.
The beauty of these fans is that they only run at the required speeds when needed. This is because they operate using sophisticated thermostatic equipment.
You can apply this same principle to other devices beyond your servers. Consider examining the cooling features of hardware like UPSs.
6

Use liquid cooling solutions

High-performance hardware often experiences the trade-off between high-performance vs high energy consumption. This is why high-end equipment often relies on adopting liquid cooling for CPUs as standard.
Instead of using fans to move air across a heat sink, liquid cooling involves using a liquid, such as water, to dissipate heat.
Today, experts consider liquid cooling to be the gold standard of cooling when compared to air-cooling methods.
7

Increase the temperature

Once upon a time, raising the temperature within a data centre would be considered risky. However, equipment vendors have designed systems capable of operating at higher temperatures than usual.
Many servers can operate at 77 degrees Fahrenheit, but most data centres still stick to the 65 degrees Fahrenheit guideline for temperature.
Raising the ambient temperature a few degrees can reduce your cooling systems’ power usage without impacting server performance. Moreover, taking this step requires no investment or overhead.
8

Power down inactive servers

Server virtualisation has demonstrated the sustainability advantages of doing more with your hardware to use less; but, why not power down entire servers that are not in use?
Too many data centres always keep them spinning because they want to have more business agility, but is it worth the thousands in costs that come with operating inactive servers?
Try searching for instances where servers can be powered down. The chances are, there may be some objections to this move, such as:
Lower Server Life Expectancy – The myth that power cycling lowers the server’s life expectancy is just that: a myth. Servers are built using the same components as hardware that’s commonly power cycled, including medical devices and vehicles.
Too Long to Power – Some people claim that servers take too long to power up. However, you can counter this by turning off boot-time diagnostic checks or booting from operational snapshots.
Customer Dissatisfaction – Users have shown they are willing to hang in there to get up and running. Most application architectures don’t decline user requests but slow them down; this has been shown to have zero impact on retention or satisfaction rates.
In short, servers are built to be switched on and off at will. If you have the budget for automation technology, you can even set up parameters that will automatically power up or down servers for maximum energy efficiency.

What is the most cost effective way to reduce energy consumption in data centres?

Upgrading your energy efficiency often means making significant investments; but, there are low-cost alternatives.
Upping the temperature is one option as part of controlled pilot experiments. On the other hand, you can also use “free” outside air-cooling to help harness the Earth’s natural resources.
Studies have shown that this option works incredibly well. For example, Intel saw a 74% reduction in power consumption after implementing free-air cooling. According to the computing giant’s findings, they saved $3 million in cost savings and used 76 million gallons of water less.

If you’re ready to reduce your energy bills for your data centre, contact the Keysource team today.

Whilst these steps can help, creating a green data centre with the help of professionals can always yield better results. Consulting with Keysource on upgrading your data centre or building a sustainable data centre from scratch can allow you to maximise efficiency opportunities.

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29 August 2023

How Data Centre Managed Services Supports Higher Education

By Blog, Thought Leadership
Data centres power modern society. With 8,800 data centres globally, these facilities power everything from governments to small businesses.
One sector that has increasingly shifted to data centre managed services is the education sector. As universities continue to embrace and incorporate new technologies into their setups, data centres have become a central part of that shift.
In this guide, we will discuss how data centre managed services work and the benefits they provide for the higher education sector.

How do data centre managed services work with the education sector?

Universities often operate in-house data centres to manage their cyber assets. The problem is that most universities have built their data centres over time using an ad-hoc strategy. These facilities often contain critical IT assets, but are powered by antiquated hardware and software.
Achieving high-performance computing is often out of reach for most higher education facilities, limiting their capacity and compromising data security. As researchers and academics generate astounding amounts of data, switching to a managed data centre provides access to advances like:

✔ Automation
✔ Machine learning
✔ Artificial intelligence
✔ High-performance computer systems

With the data centre services market projected to increase to $105.6 billion globally by 2026, higher education facilities can tackle logistical, performance and budgetary concerns by outsourcing the challenges of running an on-premises data centre while accessing state-of-the-art infrastructure.

What is the importance of data centre management in universities?

IT spending on data centres has never been higher. By the end of 2023, projections reveal that $222 billion will be spent globally on these services. Universities often spend millions on maintaining and managing their data centres.
Unfortunately, this is something that cannot be avoided. As academics perform their research and utilise increasingly complex programs as an alternative to “wet labs,” management becomes more difficult.
So, what’s the importance of data centre management for higher education?
Security – In 2022, the number of cyberattacks rose by 38%. This is the most significant aspect of data centre management universities must consider, requiring constant software and hardware updates to patch vulnerabilities.
Maintenance – Maintaining systems, including power and cabling infrastructures, is crucial for overcoming the physical challenges of operating a data centre.
Disaster Management – Universities rely on their data centres as backups for their disaster recovery program. Failure in this area can cost years of hard work and valuable academic study.
These are only three aspects that are vital to universities operating data centres, and this is also why outsourcing these functions to a dedicated managed data centre makes sense. It can save thousands every year on management while also producing better results.

The challenges of data centre management for higher education

Higher education must deal with various challenges while managing on-site data centres. Unfortunately, these are the same challenges large-scale data centres face, meaning that there’s no way around them.
Some of the problems a higher education facility may encounter while managing a data centre include the following.

Maintaining Uptime

Availability and uptime are critical to a data centre that does its job. If you continue to rely on spreadsheets for managing server information, you know how much of an issue maintaining accurate and complete information is.

This is a particular problem when dealing with unplanned downtime requiring troubleshooting or mapping out the power chain.

Utilisation of Capacity

Space, power and cooling are the three factors that allow a data centre to function. Creating an efficient data centre often means working with severe limitations in these three areas.

With the help of managed data centre services, you can shift this burden to a dedicated facility.

Reducing Operating Expenses

Operating expenses are a constant headache for facilities running even small data centres. By design, these installations consume vast amounts of energy.

Moreover, universities must budget for upgrading software, getting the latest hardware, and replacing broken components. You may also need to employ a dedicated team to run it all.

With 25% of English universities reporting a budget deficit in 2018, controlling costs is a massive problem for higher education institutions.

Achieving Zero Days

A “Zero Day” means that your data centre was not attacked. While you cannot guarantee one of these days, you can ensure that your servers aren’t breached due to a cyberattack.

Most of your time managing your data centre will be spent obsessing over security, and with so many potential physical and virtual entry points, it typically necessitates employing a dedicated cybersecurity team.

The costs of failing to meet this challenge are immense. For example, the Blackbaud Hack of 2020 saw more than 20 universities and charities in the UK, U.S., and Canada fall victim to a data breach.

Complying with Governmental Regulations

Previously, data centres were largely built and managed based on commonly accepted best practices. However, as cyberattacks grow in number and prominence, governments worldwide have acted to enact legislation to regulate data centres.

Higher education institutions must also comply with these regulations while managing their data centres. Moreover, these regulations are constantly evolving, necessitating an in-depth knowledge of the latest developments within the sector.

What benefits do data centres provide for higher education?

Data centres are essential for how higher education facilities operate today. Whether opting for an in-house data centre or outsourcing to a managed data centre, the benefits are the same.

Some of the reasons why universities worldwide rely on data centres include the following:

✔ Secure off-site servers that enhance your university’s security.
✔ Higher uptime rates guarantee constant access to vital data.
✔ Reduced costs of data storage.
✔ Greater capacity to manage enormous amounts of data.
✔ Fully scalable infrastructures to grow alongside your operations.

With students, tutors, academics and administrative staff generating more data than at any other point in history, data centres are the only way to store, process and disseminate this data.

In short, a data centre is a must-have for the higher education sector.

Which data centre approach works best for higher education?

Deciding how best to address the data centre issue means evaluating the pros and cons of each solution.

For most higher education institutions, the choice is between an on-site data centre or a managed service. In some cases, colocation facilities may also be on the table.

Every higher education institution differs, and each option has pros and cons. What works for your campus may not work for another.

In this section, we’ll discuss some of the most common approaches to data centres.

On-site data centres

Campuses often choose to utilise on-site data centres. While costly and complex to maintain, they offer several benefits unavailable via outsourced services.

Some of the advantages include:

✔ Total control over your data centre.
✔ Added in-house security.
✔ Flexibility to grow your data centre as you please.
✔ Long-term savings.

Even though on-site data centres offer higher upfront costs, they can be more cost-effective in the long term, especially compared to colocation facilities.

Managed data centre services

On the other side of the spectrum is the managed data centre. These facilities allow higher education facilities to purchase a package and have a dedicated company do everything for them.

This also includes renting the hardware and software that allows a data centre to operate in the first place. Unlike a colocation centre, you don’t need to supply hardware or software.

So, why do managed data centre services make sense?

✔ Multiple locations to improve your backup plan.
✔ Access to unrivalled expertise.
✔ State-of-the-art hardware and software.
✔ Simple scalability.
✔ Save money on employees, infrastructure and running costs.

Everything can be managed via a customer-facing interface, and you can contact tech support if there are any problems.

Implementing an on-campus data centre requires expertise and experience. At Keysource, we can support your university in designing, building and maintaining a dedicated data centre that fits the needs of your campus.
The first hurdle is the design. Your data centre must be built to your needs ten years from now, meaning you need a space to accommodate potential growth. The issue also extends further than floor space. Your team must factor in cabling, ventilation and power issues.
Once a space has been established, you must manage how data is transmitted. This goes back to the cabling – how much data can travel over your connection?
Bandwidth must be high to guarantee a certain network speed. On the other hand, you have latency, which is data delay. High latency means a low-performing data centre.
Your data centre however, is vulnerable without the appropriate security measures, even with the proper infrastructure. Some of the primary problems to address include:

✔ Compromised credentials
✔ Phishing
✔ Cloud misconfiguration
✔ Third-party software vulnerabilities
✔ Physical security

Finally, there is the environmental side. Today’s data centres account for 1% of all global electricity, which is enormous. With so many universities committed to sustainability practices, how will you manage the green implications of your data centre?

Speak to our team today for tailored university data centre solutions

With the complexities of implementing and managing campus data centres, it’s essential that you get the support you need to make your plans a reality. At Keysource, we specialise in building sustainable data infrastructures for the education sector.

Contact us
23 August 2023

SECR Overview

By Blog, Thought Leadership

Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (SECR) is the new industry legislation introduced in April 2019, replacing the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) scheme. This scheme changes the requirements for energy and carbon emissions reporting, putting more responsibility on organisations to choose how they measure and report their emissions. The first reports are due in 2020.

SECR has been introduced as part of the UK Clean Growth Strategy, which aims to improve energy efficiency among businesses by 20% by 2030. Additionally, as per the requirements of the Fourth Carbon Budget, emissions must also be reduced by 51% by 2027.

WHO IS IN SCOPE?

A company falls into scope if they fulfil two or more of the following criteria:

Within a managed data centre, you’ll find the same standard components as in any other type of data centre, including:

✔ They have more than 250 employees.
✔ The annual turnover is more than £36million.
✔ The annual balance sheet is greater than £18m.

WHO IS EXEMPT?

✔ Companies that are not registered in the UK.
✔ UK subsidiaries that qualify for SECR but are already covered by a parent’s group report (unless the parent company is not registered in the UK).
✔ Public sector organisations, charities and private sector organisations that don’t file reports to Companies House.
✔ Companies that use less than 40,000 kWh of energy in the reporting year.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF COMPLYING WITH SECR?

SECR allows companies to improve their carbon reduction and energy efficiency. Such improvements could drive financial savings and become an investment area for energy improvement measures.

SECR falls under the same compliance rules as financial reporting so non-compliance could result in penalties and unlimited fines.

WHAT ARE THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS?

✔ It is an annual requirement and a statement must be included in the Directors report.
✔ LLP’s are required to submit a standalone report to BEIS.
✔ SECR came into force on 1st April 2019 and the first report should include data from the 2019 –2020 period alongside their financial reporting.

What to Report

_ _

_
  • Energy Use
  • Scope 1 Emissions
  • Scope 2 Emissions
  • Scope 3 Emissions
  • Carbon Intensity
  • Energy Efficiency
    Measures & Results

Quoted Company

_ _

_
  • Global
  • Global
  • Global
  • Voluntary
  • Yes
  • Yes

UnQuoted Company

_ _

_
  • UK
  • UK
  • UK
  • Voluntary
  • Yes
  • Yes

At Keysource, we specialise in helping organisations to overcome the challenges of sustainable data centre design, building and management

Speak to our team today for tailored advice and guidance on creating and operating a data centre fit for the next generation of computing.

Contact us
14 August 2023

What is a Managed Data Centre?

By Blog, Thought Leadership

Data centres are the core part of our modern world. They are responsible for keeping the world connected by providing a hub for storing, processing and sharing data and applications.

Today, global IT spending on data centres has reached $222 billion, showing just how important these have become for supporting the everyday functions of society as a whole. In short, the world would look very different without the power of data centres.

However, what actually is a managed data centre? In this guide, we’ll discuss the critical components of these data centres, how they’re managed, and how they work.

What are the key components of managed data centres?

The U.S. makes up the bulk of the world’s data centres, with more than 2,700 data centres located in the country, followed by Germany with less than 500. Despite this imbalance, the industry is growing fast in every major developed nation, including the UK.

Within a managed data centre, you’ll find the same standard components as in any other type of data centre, including:

✔ Servers
✔ Networking equipment
✔ Storage technologies
✔ Cooling systems
✔ Software
✔ Cabling/power infrastructure
✔ Physical security

What separates a managed service data centre is the customer-facing interface that serves as the customer management platform.

What is a managed service data centre?

Managed data centres are the core of Data Centre as a Service (DCAAS) packages. The purpose of these data centres is to provide the physical infrastructure to clients to manage their data processes.

While these data centres contain the same infrastructure as any other type of data centre, the goal is to outsource the computing power of each centre. The benefits of managed service data centres include providing flexible, scalable and affordable data centre capabilities to businesses and public services.

The popularity of managed service data centres has exploded recently, with the industry expected to reach $600 billion by 2026. In other words, by removing standard data centres’ logistical and budgetary constrictions, managed service packages allow businesses to stay in business.

How do managed data centres work?

Managed data centres are ideal for organisations lacking the space, staff or expertise to deploy an on-site IT infrastructure that serves their needs. Instead, outsourcing your data and IT operations to the experts is a sound choice so that you can concentrate on managing your business.

Within a managed data centre, the process works like so:

  1. The client will lease a dedicated server, storage or networking hardware.
  2. The client has full use of their leased hardware/software.
  3. The managed data centre is responsible for administration, monitoring and management.

However, a similar type of data centre is the colocation facility. Under this model, the client company owns the infrastructure and rents a dedicated space within the data centre. If opting for the traditional model, you’ll be responsible for maintaining this hardware.

This however, is often impractical for most companies due to the remote nature of data centres and the risk of outages. This is why many colocation facilities offer management and monitoring services.

Tasks involved in data centre management

Data centre management involves overseeing computer systems and the information passing through these systems on behalf of clients. A dedicated manager and their team monitor all management responsibilities. Again, the majority of these tasks may be managed 100% remotely.
So, what are the primary tasks involved in managing a data centre?
While every type of data centre serves a different market, the components and running of a managed data centre are largely similar. Moreover, failure in any area could lead to data loss, outages and loss of consumer confidence.

Data Backups

Managed data centres often provide backups and form part of disaster recovery contingencies for UK SMEs. The manager must ensure the integrity and availability of these backups.

Troubleshooting

Large scale computing environments require constant troubleshooting to prevent problems and maintain uptime.

Supervising Technicians

Despite the comprehensive automation that has streamlined today’s data centres, on-site work remains necessary, mainly when dealing with hardware. Part of a manager’s role is to supervise technicians in the course of their work.

Managing Cybersecurity Systems

Managed data centres are under near-constant attack from bad actors; therefore, data centre management must revolve around keeping state-of-the-art cybersecurity systems in check.

Forming a Physical Security Plan

Physical security is also a concern. Today’s security systems may still rely on human security guards, but most internal systems are electronic, including CCTV cameras, biometrics and more.

Supporting Data Centre Integrity

The components that make a data centre work also create new challenges. For example, managers must formulate cooling and cabling strategies to prevent outages.

Data centre monitoring

Monitoring makes up the bulk of operating a data centre. Business clients are paying first for the infrastructure and second for peace of mind.
Your goal in monitoring a data centre is to maintain its health and ensure it reaches its peak potential. Simultaneously, data centre monitoring ensures that the facility complies with external and internal regulations.
A combination of manual and automated tools are deployed to achieve these goals. While data centres have yet to reach 100% automation, most key functions can be managed remotely without human input.
On a side note, while many use the terms “monitoring” and “management” interchangeably, they’re not strictly the same.

Challenges of data centre management

Growing complexities within modern data centres also create unique challenges for the teams operating them. As part of designing and building a data centre, teams must account for these challenges to construct an infrastructure that overcomes them.
Failure in any one area can lead to a catastrophe. Today’s average data centre downtime cost is $740,000, 50% higher than in 2010, so prolonged downtime can cost millions.
So, what are the challenges you need to be aware of?

✔ Power management
✔ Capacity planning
✔ The role of the Internet of Things (IoT)
✔ Data security
✔ Real-time reporting
✔ Balancing efficiency and cost controls

On top of these challenges, data centres must tackle the problem of evolving government regulations. These concerns must be addressed domestically and globally to ensure that you give clients and the general public the confidence they need when sharing and using data.

At Keysource, we specialise in helping organisations to overcome the challenges of sustainable data centre design, building and management

Speak to our team today for tailored advice and guidance on creating and operating a data centre fit for the next generation of computing.

Contact us
7 August 2023

Keysource Wins International Health and Safety Accolade For An 8th Consecutive Year

By Blog, News, Press Release

Keysource Ltd, based in Gatwick, has fought off stiff international competition to scoop a prestigious RoSPA Award, demonstrating its commitment to health and safety excellence.

Keysource won a Gold Award in the Heath & Safety for an 8th consecutive year. Demonstrating its dedication to ensuring its staff get home safely at the end of every working day.

The RoSPA Health and Safety Awards is the largest occupational health and safety awards programme in the UK. Now into its 67th year, the Awards have almost 2,000 entries every year, covering nearly 50 countries and a reach of over seven million employees. The programme recognises organisations’ commitment to continuous improvement in the prevention of accidents and ill health at work, looking at entrants’ overarching health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.

While most awards are non-competitive – recognising individual organisations’ achievements – competitive awards are presented in 20 industry sectors and for specialist areas of health and safety management.

Sponsored by Croner-i, the RoSPA Awards scheme is the longest-running of its kind in the UK, and receives entries from organisations across the globe, making it one of the most sought-after achievement awards for the health and safety industry.

”Accidents at work and work-related ill health don’t just have huge financial implications or cause major disruption – they significantly impact an individual’s quality of life. That’s why good safety performance deserves to be recognised and rewarded.

We are thrilled that Keysource has won a RoSPA Award and would like to congratulate them on showing an unwavering commitment to keeping their employees, clients and customers safe from accidental harm and injury.

Julia SmallRoSPA’s Achievements Director

Don't miss the opportunity to be part of the sustainable data centre revolution!

Join Keysource today and become a driving force behind our innovative solutions. With our expert team, cutting-edge technology, and commitment to a greener future, together, we’ll lead the way in shaping a more sustainable world. Join us now and make a lasting impact!

We are committed to sustainability, and we are always looking for new ways to reduce our environmental impact. We use the latest technologies and techniques to design and build data centres that are as efficient as possible, improving their energy efficiency, reducing their water consumption, and minimising waste.

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3 August 2023

Keysource Completes New Data Hall For Datum

By Blog, News, Thought Leadership

Keysource, the global datacentre and critical environment specialist has completed a major design and expansion project for Datum Datacentres at its site on Cody Technology Park, Farnborough. The expansion supports Datum’s ambitious growth plans and commitment to providing high levels of security and client support.

Part of a £7 million investment, the project involves the creation of a new data hall and associated ancillary areas. Located in the fallow space on the first floor, it operates alongside the ground floor and first floor facilities, providing 380 rack positions, a cooling infrastructure for 1000kW of IT load with N+1 resilience and a power infrastructure for 1000kW of IT load with 2N resilience.

Sustainability was a key driver in this expansion project, so the solution has been designed to deliver efficiency and support net zero targets. It includes generators that use Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel, reducing the CO2 emissions during testing or emergency operation. The UPS solution uses lithium-ion batteries which removes the need for the additional cooling required when using traditional lead-acid battery banks, and providing an extended life expectancy which will result in less frequent lifecycle replacements. In addition, the cooling solution is highly optimised to dynamically respond to demand and external ambient conditions for high levels of free cooling.

Working closely with the Datum team, Keysource initially produced a performance specification and associated RIBA Stage 3 design. The preconstruction package was scoped and programmed to reduce the overall delivery programme by expediting LLE (Long Lead Equipment) procurement and mitigating other risks inherent of a data centre project, such as permissions and approvals.

Keysource delivered the project  along with a range of specialist services associated with design, cost management, engineering and commissioning. This included a combined Building Management System (BMS) and Power Management System (PMS) to provide analytics and insight into solution and sub-system operation, allowing for changes to be made in operation which maximise operational efficiency and reduce ongoing maintenance requirements.

”Planning during the preconstruction phase ensured there was zero risk of downtime and operational disruption and that existing client SLAs and OLAs were maintained. We also understand and support Datum’s sustainability ambitions and those of their clients. These are reflected throughout our collaborative projects, which aim to reduce the amount of scope 2 and 3 emissions.

Jon HealyOperations Director at Keysource

”Keysource has been our trusted advisor since 2013 and our partnership continues to grow. Keysource has completed a range of projects for us including a number of upgrades and fit outs to meet the requirements of both our new and existing clients. They were also part of the team behind our recent acquisition of Teledata UK, a colocation data centre in Manchester.

Dominic PhillipsCEO at Datum

Are you looking for a data centre partner that can help you achieve your sustainability goals?

Keysource is a leading provider of data centre design, construction, and management services. We have a proven track record of delivering sustainable data centres that meet the needs of our clients.

Our team of experts can help you every step of the way, from planning and design to construction and commissioning. We will work with you to understand your specific needs and goals, and we will develop a custom solution that meets your budget and timeline.

We are committed to sustainability, and we are always looking for new ways to reduce our environmental impact. We use the latest technologies and techniques to design and build data centres that are as efficient as possible, improving their energy efficiency, reducing their water consumption, and minimizing waste.

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18 July 2023

How Can Computational Fluid Dynamics Help Save Data Centre Cooling Costs?

By Blog, News, Thought Leadership

Did you know that Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations have been proven to improve cooling efficiency by up to 20% and reduce energy consumption by up to 30%?

These statistics highlight the immense potential of CFD in optimising data centre operations. In fact, according to a recent survey conducted by the Society of Computational Fluid Dynamics (SCD), a staggering 70% of organizations recognize the undeniable impact of CFD simulations in gaining a competitive advantage.

Data centres are essential for all organisations, but they can also be costly to operate. One of the biggest expenses for data centres is cooling, which can account for up to 40% of the total energy usage. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a powerful tool that can help data centre operators improve efficiency and performance by optimizing cooling systems.

What is Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)?

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a powerful simulation technique that utilizes mathematical algorithms and computer modelling to study and analyse fluid flow, heat transfer and other related issues that may impact efficiency.

For data centres in particular, CFD enables operators to visualise and understand the complex airflow patterns, temperature distribution and thermal behaviour within the facility.

By accurately modelling these factors, Keysource can help data centre operators make data-driven decisions to optimise cooling strategies, reduce energy efficiency and enhance overall operational performance.

Why should data centre operators be interested in CFD?

Enhanced Thermal Management

Effective cooling is critical for maintaining optimal operating conditions in data centres. CFD allows operators to precisely model and simulate the airflow and temperature distribution throughout the facility, identifying hotspots, areas of recirculation and potential airflow obstructions.

By gaining a comprehensive understanding of the thermal behavior, operators can optimise cooling systems, implement targeted airflow management strategies and reduce the risk of equipment overheating or failure.

Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings

Data centres consume significant amounts of energy and efficient cooling is a major contributor to operational costs. By leveraging CFD, operators can optimise airflow patterns, identify opportunities for air containment and reduce unnecessary energy consumption.

Studies have shown that implementing CFD-driven optimizations can lead to energy savings of up to 30%, resulting in substantial cost reductions and improved sustainability.

Predictive Analysis and Risk Mitigation

CFD enables data centre operators to conduct virtual “what-if” scenarios, evaluating the impact of potential changes or additions to the facility.

By simulating the effects of equipment upgrades, layout modifications, or changes in operational conditions, operators can proactively assess risks, identify potential bottlenecks and ensure optimal performance before implementing any physical changes. This predictive analysis approach minimizes costly trial-and-error processes and facilitates informed decision-making.

Optimal Equipment Placement and Capacity Planning

When expanding or designing a new data centre, CFD can play a crucial role in optimizing equipment placement and airflow management. By simulating various configurations and scenarios, operators can determine the most efficient layout, identify potential hotspots and ensure proper cooling to maximize the capacity and reliability of the infrastructure.

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If you are interested in learning more about how our computational fluid dynamic scans can help you improve efficiency and performance, contact Keysource today. We can help you assess your needs and develop a CFD solution that is right for you and your organisation.

 

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29 June 2023

Behind the Scenes at Glastonbury: The Critical Role of Data Centres

By Blog, News, Thought Leadership

Glastonbury, the renowned music festival that captivates audiences worldwide, is not just about the artists on stage. Behind the scenes, there’s a hidden world of technology and infrastructure that ensures the seamless streaming and broadcasting of this iconic event. At Keysource, we’re proud to play a crucial role in supporting our client, Timeline Television, as they bring the magic of Glastonbury to screens everywhere. Let’s take a closer look at the partnership between Keysource and Timeline Television and the essential role of data centres in the world of critical infrastructure and entertainment.

Powering the Broadcast Revolution

Timeline Television, a leading UK television broadcasting company, relies on a cutting-edge data centre located at Ealing Broadcast Centre (EBC) to deliver world-class post-production services, broadcasting facilities, and systems integration to the international TV market. Keysource has been entrusted with the critical facilities management contract, ensuring the flawless operation of this vital infrastructure.

Data Centres: The Unsung Heroes

Data centres serve as the backbone of the modern digital world, supporting a wide range of industries and services. At Glastonbury, where millions of fans eagerly await their favourite performances, a robust network of data centres and critical infrastructure is essential for smooth streaming, online ticketing, and overall event management. Keysource’s collaboration with Timeline Television brings these hidden worlds into the limelight, showcasing the pivotal role data centres play in delivering unforgettable experiences to viewers.

Reliability and Resilience

The EBC data centre, developed in 2021 through an ambitious transformation project, was converted from an 800-rack facility into state-of-the-art studios and a 60-rack data centre. With up to 3MW of capacity, this facility boasts cutting-edge power and cooling infrastructure, ensuring reliable operations even in the most demanding broadcast scenarios. For Timeline TV, who provides broadcasting facilities for key events like the football World Cup, political debates, and corporate conferences, uptime and resilience are critical.

Keysource’s Proactive Approach

Keysource’s mission is to achieve optimum performance and prevent any unplanned downtime at the EBC data centre as Luke Brimelow, Operations Manager at Keysource, explains:

“Due to the criticality of this facility where any unplanned downtime could result in TV programs going off air, our aim is to achieve optimum performance. By identifying and managing issues that affect all aspects of the facility before they become critical, this joined-up approach to fault finding and resolution maximizes critical availability, efficiency, and resilience.”

The Price of Disruption

The importance of uninterrupted broadcasting was underscored by a major incident in September 2021 when a fire suppression system triggered at Red Bee Media’s London broadcast centre, resulting in widespread disruptions and many TV channels going off air. The incident highlighted the criticality of reliable power and cooling infrastructure and the importance of proactive maintenance and support, both of which Keysource provides to Timeline Television.

As you immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of Glastonbury, take a moment to appreciate the behind-the-scenes efforts powered by organisations like Keysource and Timeline Television. From delivering high-definition broadcasts to seamless streaming experiences, this collaboration ensures that viewers around the world can enjoy the magic of live events without interruptions.

Keysource remains committed to supporting critical infrastructures, such as data centres, that make moments like Glastonbury possible, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Timeline Television in shaping the future of entertainment.

Take Action Now and Secure Your

Data Centre's Resilience

Stay tuned for more updates and behind-the-scenes insights from Keysource, as we continue to provide cutting-edge solutions for data centre design, energy efficiency, and infrastructure management.

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19 June 2023

Protect Your Data Centre From the Summer Heatwave

By Blog, Thought Leadership

The summer is fast approaching, and with it data centre operators face significant challenges in maintaining the cooling systems that keep their infrastructure running smoothly. Previous year’s heatwaves revealed vulnerabilities, resulting in service level agreement breaches and costly outages. With the Met Office predicting another hot summer this year, it’s crucial to take immediate action with Keysource to safeguard your data centre and ensure uninterrupted operations.

Your Crucial Defence Against Thermal Runaway

Our strategic partnership with EkkoSense offers a powerful solution to identify and mitigate thermal issues before they compromise your data centre’s performance. Data indicates that thermal problems contribute to almost one-third of data centre outages. By leveraging EkkoSense’s platform, you gain the ability to proactively protect your critical infrastructure, providing peace of mind during the upcoming sweltering months.

Deploy in Weeks – Don’t Wait for the Heatwave to Strike

The time for action is now. Our streamlined deployment process allows for a swift integration into your data centre within weeks. Seamlessly integrating with your existing Building Management System (BMS) or Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM) tools, our solution empowers you to take a proactive stance against thermal challenges, ensuring your data centre remains resilient.

Slash Cooling Energy Consumption, Costs and Carbon Footprint

At Keysource, we are committed to driving sustainability and cost savings in the data centre industry. Through our partnership with EkkoSense, we can help you identify areas where cooling improvements can be made, significantly reducing energy consumption and costs. By embracing our solution, you optimize cooling efficiency while making a positive impact on your carbon footprint and fulfilling your environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments.

Immediate Impact with Rapid ROI

We understand the importance of delivering tangible results quickly. By working with Keysource, you can expect a typical return on investment in less than 12 months. Within a couple of weeks, EkkoSense’s platform generates actionable recommendations for cooling improvements, enabling you to take swift corrective measures and bring your operations within SLA compliance.

 

Take Action Now and Secure Your

Data Centre's Resilience

Don’t let the summer heatwave catch you off guard. Act now to fortify your data centre against thermal runaway and potential outages. Contact our team today via the link below to discover how we can revolutionize your cooling management strategy and ensure uninterrupted operations throughout the summer ahead.

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5 June 2023

Keysource and Deep Green Win DCS Award – Edge Project of the Year

By Blog, News

Keysource and Deep Green are proud to announce that we have won the Edge Project of the Year award at the DCS Awards! This recognises our innovative approach to data centre design and construction, which uses sustainable technologies to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.

Project Overview

An innovative start up Deep Green has seen the heat generated by a data centre used to heat a Devon public swimming pool. The computers inside the white box are surrounded by oil to capture the heat – enough to heat the pool to about 30C 60% of the time, saving Exmouth Leisure Centre thousands of pounds. The data centre is provided to the council-run centre free of charge and the leisure centre’s electricity costs for running the “digital boiler” will also be refunded.

Sean Day, who runs the leisure centre, said he had been expecting its energy bills to rise by £100,000 this year. “The partnership has really helped us reduce the costs of what has been astronomical over the last 12 months – our energy prices and gas prices have gone through the roof.”

The future of the data centre has to be at the heart of communities, contributing too, rather than detracting from local communities. We can do this as part of an integrated planning process, leveraging the heat for district heating, support local community services like swimming pools or even as part of new residential and commercial developments.

Rishi Sunak recently highlighted the £800m investment in supercomputing, and what better way to achieve this in a sustainable manner, to support NetZero 2030 than an integrated Metropolitan Edge data centre within every community. Keysource and Deep Green are working together to scale this approach across the UK.

Challenges Addressed

Energy costs are at an all-time high and swimming pools are struggling to stay open. (Last summer, BBC News revealed 65 swimming pools had closed since 2019, with rising energy costs cited as a significant reason.) This also bucks the trend of data centre projects by repurposing the heat generated to serve the local community.

The project was able to find the ‘load’ that marries up with the Direct Liquid Cooling compute approach in a footprint that can be sustainable and secure whilst ensuring the IT hardware has valid ‘warranty’ in DLC / Immersed environment.

Moving forward this approach also addresses the Grid limitations and energy requirements that are significantly limiting opportunities to develop new data-centre capacity and creating significant negative publicity for the data centre industry which is manifesting itself in moratoriums on new project development.  In essence, rapidly growing industry energy requirements and carbon footprint represent an existential threat to existing DC business models.

Innovation

This approach utilises small pockets of ‘spare’ and already allocated grid capacity to deliver edge and HPC capabilities within the fabric of society. The energy recapture model saves pools at least 63% on their energy requirements to heat the pool.  In exchange, the pools provide space, power and connectivity to support the deployment.

It utilises the energy efficiency benefits of immersion and direct liquid cooling in combination with heat re-use to deliver a PUE of 1.005 or lower and runs on 100% renewable energy.

Project Challenges

As with many projects in the sector we faced supply chain delays and had to also manage the programme with the swimming pool. The availability of skilled people was an issue as we were looking for specialist partners to work with, with strong supply chain and coverage to support the installation.

Warranty restrictions of existing components is not favourable to immersion projects so we had to work with OEM manufacturers to validate the use of their technology within immersed environments.

Benefits

A cut in gas consumption for pool heating by 91%; a current PUE of 1.005 with a projected PUE of 1.003; projected cost savings of £2500 per month: and projected reduction of carbon footprint of 3 tonnes per month.

Are you looking for a data centre partner that can help you achieve your sustainability goals?

Keysource is a leading provider of data centre design, construction, and management services. We have a proven track record of delivering sustainable data centres that meet the needs of our clients.

Our team of experts can help you every step of the way, from planning and design to construction and commissioning. We will work with you to understand your specific needs and goals, and we will develop a custom solution that meets your budget and timeline.

We are committed to sustainability, and we are always looking for new ways to reduce our environmental impact. We use the latest technologies and techniques to design and build data centres that are as efficient as possible, improving their energy efficiency, reducing their water consumption, and minimizing waste.

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18 May 2023
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