iomart announces the implementation of a prototype passive cooling system in its Glasgow data centre. Test results for the new cooling system indicate the potential for an up to 50 per cent reduction in electrical power consumption by the site’s cooling system, which could have a significant impact on the carbon footprint of the data centre industry as a whole and help the industry on its way to carbon neutrality.
Glasgow-based Katrick Technologies has designed, patented and manufactured a system that uses heat energy, in this case a by-product of a data centre’s day to day operations, to power the cooling systems for the data centre’s servers. The technology, which aims to replace the energy intensive condensers that account for around 45 per cent of a data centres’ electricity consumption, captures heat energy and, through the use of bi-fluids, converts it into fluid vibrations which, in turn, move specially designed fins to create the desired cooling effect.
The patented technology was installed at iomart’s Glasgow site in October 2021 and tests performed on the passive cooling system show that the system is performing better than expected.
Reece Donovan, Chief Executive Officer of iomart said: “Data centres are essential to a more connected, digital future, but the environmental impact of the sector is something the industry has to come to terms with. Through projects like this, we are able to play an active role in taking steps towards a greener future for the tech industry. We are delighted to have already seen the potential impact of this technology at our Glasgow data centre.”
Vijay Madlani, Co-CEO of Katrick Technologies added, “These tests show Katrick’s passive cooling system could reduce a data centre’s total energy consumption by up to 25% per cent. Innovation is essential in the fight against climate change, and these test results clearly show a major step forward in reducing the environmental impact of not just one data centre, but of the whole industry.”
