The data centres primary power is grid-supplied, and the provision of on-site gas engines add additional site resilience and capacity where networks are constrained. In this scenario, gas engines operate similarly to flexible generation plants and can produce electricity during high electricity price periods to manage the site operational costs.
The data centres primary power is grid-supplied, and the provision of on-site gas engines add additional site resilience and standby power. Should there be a requirement for cooling, the data centre can introduce absorption chilling which can operate at temperatures as low as minus 5 degrees Celsius and support existing cooling infrastructure.
Primary power is supplied by the grid and gas engine assets provide secondary backup power adding additional site power resilience. Heat and cooling recovered from the engine can be used to power locally connected district energy networks ensuring optimised use of fuel source and engine asset.
In this scenario, gas engines displace diesel generation to provide secondary low carbon reserve power, thus reducing on-site carbon emissions. Further efficiencies can be realised once the gas network accepts blended hydrogen mixes.
Gas engines can be integrated alongside a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), wind, and solar photovoltaic technologies as part of a sustainable data centre power solution. Gas engines operating on low emission natural gas, renewable biogas, or hydrogen, provide reserve backup power and compliment renewable energy integration.
Battery storage can capture excess solar PV generation and store it for later use offsetting high time-of-day grid import charges or participate in demand side response services, offering asset flexibility and access to additional revenue streams.
Combined gas engines with BESS can also increase potential revenue streams from capacity grid services such as Fast Frequency Response (FFR), Primary Operating Reserve (POR) and Secondary Operating Reserve (SOR).
Under EirGrid’s Delivering a Secure, Sustainable Electricity System (DS3) programme, sites operating on renewable technologies could benefit from financial incentives for energy efficient plant performance.
