Data Center White Paper schurter.com/downloads Obvious approach 400 VDC for Data Centers Converting, transforming, converting, transforming – vast amounts of unused electricity simply disappear in data centers. The idea of switching the power supply to direct current and bypassing a large proportion of these losses results in a paradigm shift. SCHURTER GP21: 400 VDC power plug according to IEC TS 62735-1 for systems up to 2.6 kW Saving energy has many good strides. First, it is good for our ecological consciousness. Second, it leads to a more lean power system architecture that can save costs, time and effort through skillful planning. Taking a look back The fact that nowadays we are almost always talking about alternating current (AC) when it comes to primary voltage electricity, doesn't mean it will forever remain that way. During the "War of the Currents" at the end of the 19th century, the two opposing camps fought to the limits: the advocates of the alternating current (Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse) versus Thomas Alva Edison, who made a strong case for direct current (DC). The formal War of the Currents was the first format war in industrial history that fought for a standard. We know how the story ends. But the outcome was not so clear at the time. The return of direct current But, Edison's defeat did not mean it was the end for DC. A lot of DC-operated devices are used in today's busy digital age - entertainment electronics, industrial IT, communication technology, electric vehicles and much more. At the other end of the energy supply chain, technologies quickly evolving to mimic the AC primary power chain with one that directly generates direct current, such as photovoltaics, fuel cells and wind farms. And even in the transmission of power there is an important exception to the otherwise prevailing alternating current: the high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system. It enables a low-loss bulk transmission of electrical power over long distances. The use of direct current is therefore on the rise again: More and more electricity is supplied along the supply chain at least once in DC form in the areas of energy generation, trans­ mission, storage and use. Although conversions are necessary for stepping down voltage at times for technical reasons, in some cases these AC voltages and frequencies are probably still used because of predetermined infrastructure built upon years of stand­ ardization of AC power. However, these conversions always cause losses in power and thus energy waste, as well as generating unnecessary heat which can be avoided. Energy-guzzling Data Centers According to an independent British report from 2016, data centers consume approximately 3 % of the world's electricity and account for 2 % of total greenhouse gas emissions. This ecological footprint corresponds to that generated by the often quoted and vilified airline industry. A clear picture: with a consumption of 416.2 terawatt

Data Center White Paper schurter.com/downloads hours, data centers were significantly more hungry for power than the entire UK (about 300 terawatt hours) in the last few years. Data centers are real energy guzzlers. What is known as a PUE value (Power Usage Effectiveness) is usually used to evaluate the efficiency. The PUE value compares the total energy consumed in the data center with the energy consumed by computers. Example: a PUE value of 1.3 means that 30 % of the energy dissipates as heat. This may sound like a lot, but in actual fact this value is excellent. Values of around 2 or higher...

White Paper Data Centerschurter.com/downloads distortions. A phase compensation is also no longer required. In addition to this, a synchronization is no longer required for coupling the various sources and networks. Even rectifiers and inverters are not required as the batteries are connected directly to the DC supply. Integration of renewable energy sources No sane person would think of building a data center in the middle of a big city. The high price of the land alone makes such a choice impossible. So, it's out into the countryside we go, where we can find some interesting additional perspectives....

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