BYOP&C makes it possible for AI datacenters to simultaneously produce electricity, cooling, and re-use heat while improving efficiency.
AI data center operators are increasingly taking a proactive approach to energy driven by a combination of grid constraints, but also the efficiency and resiliency benefits of on-site generation. An efficient and cost-effective way to achieve this is via Bring Your Own Power and Cooling, (also known as combined cooling, heat and power (CCHP), or trigeneration), which enables data centers to simultaneously produce electricity, cooling, and re-use heat while improving energy efficiency.
BYOP&C synergies
The core components of BYOP&C for data centers consist of:
- On-site generation
- Advanced power train management
- Absorption chillers for cooling
- Heat recovery systems
On-site generation
BYOP&C is typically provided by gas turbines or gas engines running on natural gas (renewables and fuel cells are also an option). These systems offer high efficiency and high reliability. The technology can be installed rapidly to provide the power needed to bring the facility online. If grid power eventually becomes available, the on-site generation can also potentially shift to supplementing the grid or as backup generation.
Advanced power train management
Power generated by BYOP&C must be optimally fed to and through the data center using advanced power train management technology, which operates in three stages. The facility's power conversion and distribution stage converts utility power to a lower voltage, distributes it to major subsystems, conditions it to meet IT system requirements, and is supported by backup systems that maintain continuity during utility outages (higher voltage DC power distribution is also becoming more widely adopted for AI factories). The room/row switching and distribution stage manages, monitors, and distributes conditioned power to individual rows and racks within the data center. The rack power distribution stage distributes power directly to IT devices in the equipment rack. Working together, the three stages of the data center power train support efficient delivery of clean, continuous power to critical systems from grid to chip.
Heat recovery systems
Exhaust heat from turbines or engines is channeled to a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG). Waste heat inside the HRSG converts water into saturated steam that can then be used to drive a steam turbine and generate electricity. Use of HRSG has the potential to improve the efficiency of a "simple cycle" gas turbine which typically operates at 33%–43% efficiency, according to organizations such as the International Energy Agency (IEA). Alternatively, waste heat can be used to provide heating for the data center, and district heat for nearby communities in winter, or can be fed to nearby businesses to be used in industrial processes.
Absorption chillers for cooling
By also using waste heat in the cooling of the data center, overall efficiency can be boosted further. Waste heat from the power plant and the data center itself can be used to increase efficiency and lower energy costs for the cooling system. This enables absorption chillers to use waste heat rather than electricity to produce chilled water for use in cooling. Recent advancements such as multi-stage chillers are even able to harness extremely low-temperature heat from servers as part of the cooling process.
Integration is key
For best results, BYOP&C technology should be fully integrated into data center infrastructure . The onsite generation plant, waste heat recovery systems, data center power management and distribution infrastructure, and end-to-end cooling systems (chillers, direct-to-chip, air cooling, and more) should be designed and built to work in harmony. Additionally, BYOP&C can play a role in moving Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) closer to the ideal of 1.0, CO2 emissions can be reduced, and significant electricity savings can be realized. Integrated power, heat and cooling designs can also be used in conjunction with microgrids, on-site power, and renewable sources.
Future outlook
Existing data centers seeking to implement waste heat and onsite generation face some challenges. Upfront capital costs are higher but payback is often rapid due to lower energy costs. Space constraints and integration complexity may also limit the ability of some existing facilities to implement BYOP&C. New data centers have the advantage as they can add onsite generation and waste heat recovery at the design stage.
Fully integrated on-site energy and cooling solutions with validated interfaces and performance are available from suppliers including Vertiv and Caterpillar. Caterpillar and its Solar Turbines subsidiary is supplying natural gas turbines and reciprocating engines to deliver dependable, scalable electric power and thermal energy. Vertiv will provide a complete portfolio of power and cooling solutions and services, packaged as modular, pre-designed blocks, to shorten design cycles and standardize deployment.
To find out more about integrated data center solutions that embrace a grid-to-chip architecture, harness onsite generation and waste heat recovery, and deliver validated reference designs from 10 to 100 megawatts and beyond, visit Spotlight: Advanced energy optimization solutions for data centers.
Energy autonomy accelerates is one of the technology trends reshaping data center infrastructure identified in Vertiv Frontiers report.
