ABB and IO have agreed to partner in the development of a new data center module based on dc power to meet increasing demand for dc data centers. Together, the companies state they will deliver the world’s first dc-powered data center module, which will be completed by the end of the year.
The rapid growth of data storage, combined with global networking, has resulted in a massive increase in data center capacity worldwide. Data centers typically consume 15 times more energy per square foot than a typical office building and, in some cases, may be 100 times more energy intensive – running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These facilities require significant amounts of electricity and any improvement in efficiency can provide significant cost savings while lessening CO2 emissions.