HPE and Danfoss Team Up to Transform Data Center Heat Recovery
Netherlands, Friday, 28 June 2024.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Danfoss have partnered to develop a plug-and-play module for heat recovery in data centers. This innovative solution aims to enhance energy efficiency by harnessing waste heat, potentially revolutionizing sustainable IT operations.
Driving Energy Efficiency in Data Centers
The collaboration between Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Danfoss represents a significant step towards energy-efficient data centers. By integrating a plug-and-play module designed for heat recovery, the partnership aims to leverage excess heat generated by data centers. This initiative is expected to reduce overall energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, making IT operations more sustainable.
Technological Collaboration
HPE, renowned for its innovative IT solutions, brings its Modular Data Center (MDC) into the collaboration. The MDC utilizes direct liquid cooling, which significantly reduces energy consumption by 20% compared to traditional data centers. Danfoss, a Danish engineering company, complements this with its advanced heat recovery modules and Turbocor compressors, which can boost cooling efficiency by up to 30% by capturing and reusing waste heat.
Addressing Rising Energy Demands
With the rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, the energy demand in data centers is expected to surge, potentially consuming ten times more electricity by 2026 than in 2023. The partnership between HPE and Danfoss is strategically positioned to address these increasing power demands by implementing energy-efficient solutions that mitigate excessive energy consumption.
Scalable and Rapid Deployment
One of the key advantages of this collaboration is the ability to deploy container data centers three times faster than traditional data centers. The compact design of these container units minimizes the use of heavy construction materials, allowing data centers to be operational within six months as opposed to the typical 18 months. Additionally, the modular design ensures scalability, making it easier for organizations to expand their IT infrastructure efficiently.
Environmental and Economic Impact
The European Union generates approximately 2,860 terawatt-hours of waste heat annually, which is equivalent to the energy demand for heating and hot water in residential and commercial buildings across the EU. By capturing and reusing this waste heat, the new module not only reduces energy consumption but also offers economic benefits by lowering operational costs. Danfoss’ heat recovery technology, already in use at its headquarters in Denmark, exemplifies the potential savings and environmental impact of this innovation.
Industry Leaders’ Vision
Jürgen Fischer, President of Danfoss Climate Solutions, highlighted the importance of this partnership in driving the decarbonization of the data center industry. Similarly, Phillip Cutrone, Vice President and General Manager of HPE Data Center Infrastructure Solutions, emphasized HPE’s commitment to sustainable innovation, stating that the collaboration with Danfoss is a testament to their dedication to creating energy-efficient IT solutions.
A Blueprint for Sustainable Data Centers
The joint efforts of HPE and Danfoss are set to create a blueprint for the next generation of sustainable data centers. By utilizing state-of-the-art technologies such as Turbocor compressors, heat exchangers, and heat recovery modules, this modular solution not only addresses current energy challenges but also sets a precedent for future advancements in the industry.