Syracuse University, IBM Launch Off-Grid Data Center

Published December 08, 2009

Syracuse, NY — Syracuse University has completed construction on a data center that will use 50 percent less energy than typical data centers and operate completely off the grid.

The Green Data Center will showcase innovations in advanced energy-efficient information technology and building systems, and act as a primary computing facility for Syracuse University.

The data center was created with a $2 million contribution from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (with another $500,000 on the way from the New York State Senate) and $5 million worth of equipment, design services and support from IBM.

The $12.4 million, 12,000-square-foot facility is run with an on-site power generation system that uses natural gas-fueled microturbines to generate all the electricity for the center and all of the cooling for the computer servers.

The liquid cooling system uses double-effect absorption chillers to convert the exhaust heat from the microturbines into chilled water that cools the servers and adjacent building. The chilled water is also used to remove heat from each rack more efficiently than conventional room-cooling methods. Sensors monitor server temperatures and change the amount of cooling delivered to each server based on their needs.

IBM and Syracuse University also plan to establish a Green Data Center Analysis and Design Center next year to offer research and analysis services on how to build new energy efficient data centers or optimize the efficiency of current centers.

IBM has also committed to making a $27 million investment over five years to provide Syracuse University students with access to IBM hardware, software and maintenance services like the System z10 mainframe and IBM DS8000 with 18 terabytes of storage.

The equipment will give students exposure on computing systems that are optimized for fast and secure transactions, like the systems used by Visa for holiday transactions. Students will be able to build and process large-scale data sets, and learn how to virtualize many small computers within one large-scale system to reduce energy costs as well as physical space.

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Off the grid with home-made carbon

Anonymous, December 9, 2009 - 18:57

It is admirable that IBM and The State of New York would donate the millions to create such a high efficiency facility. Sounds like a big reduction in consumption and cost plus a little power co-generation.

Very few businesses can expect a handout like this one to help them reduce their data center carbon consumption but there are several short-term strategies and tactics that will dramatically reduce data center OPEX costs with paybacks of 6 to 9 months.

If you haven't completed an independent audit or even a baseline review of your data center you should talk with the experts at Transitional Data, http://www.transitionaldata.com/services/data_center_optimize.php

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Syracuse University, IBM Launch Off-Grid Data Center

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Off the grid with home-made carbon

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Syracuse University, IBM Launch Off-Grid Data Center

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Off the grid with home-made carbon

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