How can energy storage and artificial intelligence improve energy efficiency in data centres? Dr Ralph Hintemann, Partner & Senior Researcher at the Borderstep Institute, will be speaking at the Data Center Expert Summit on 4 June. He explains what it’s all about in this interview:
Mr Hintemann, smart heat distribution in the right place at the right time – how does that work?
This is actually one of the major challenges of the energy transition. Sustainable heat sources – such as industrial waste heat – are not always located where the heat is needed. And unfortunately, the profile of the heat source does not always match the heat demand. This is exactly why we need “smart” solutions for the heat supply.
How can artificial intelligence (AI) help make data centres more sustainable and greener?
AI can be used in many areas of the data centre. For example, several projects have already shown that AI can be used to significantly optimise the efficiency of cooling. IT Operations can also be optimised with AI. In the DC2HEAT project, we are showing how AI can be used to make the use of waste heat from data centres simpler and more efficient. AI helps to better coordinate the supply and demand of heat and to operate heating networks more efficiently. Intelligent digital twins will also make it easier and faster to plan and size heating networks.
Will we need more storage systems for thermal and electrical energy in the future and what are the challenges?
Yes, storage systems for thermal and electrical energy are one way of dealing with the temporal and spatial divergence between energy supply and demand. Unfortunately, such storage systems tend to be very expensive. So the first step is to make demand more flexible. We should primarily use electricity and heat at times when they are available in a sustainable and affordable way.
Mr Hintemann, thank you very much for the interview!
The Data Center Expert Summit takes place on 3-4 June at the Alte Schlosserei in Offenbach am Main: Find out more and register at the early bird rate.
