Dr.-Ing. Christian Groß, facilitator at the Datacenter Experience forum and Technical Sales Manager of the Blue Energy Group AG (manufacturer and operator of biomass heating plants and biomass refineries) conducted an interview with Frank Trautmann, Head of Key Account Management for ICT at STULZ. The interview was based on Trautmann's presentation, “Innovation in the Data Center - peace of mind in air conditioning planning for the lifecycle of a Data Center generation,” which he gave to 60 visitors to the Datacenter Experience.
Why is the subject “Innovation in the Data Center - peace of mind in air conditioning planning for the lifecycle of a Data Center generation” so important to you?
Planning peace of mind is the all-important factor for Data Center operators. Many of our customers and partners are wondering how they can fulfill the requirements of the new German Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG). Since November 18, 2023, authorities, energy intensive companies and Data Centers have been placed under an obligation to save more energy. The EnEfG has established clear objectives for reducing primary and final energy consumption in Germany by 2030 and has also set targets for 2040 and 2045, which are to be monitored in 2027 and adapted if necessary.
Can you sum up the most important objectives of the EnEfG?
Fundamentally, it targets six areas:
1. Higher energy efficiency
Where final energy consumption is concerned, it means a reduction of more than 550 TWh by 2030 (compared with 2008). By 2040, final energy consumption in Germany is to fall by up to 40 percent compared with the year 2008.
2. Obligation to save energy for federal government and the federal state authorities
In order to implement the EU requirements, from 2024 federal government and the federal state authorities have an obligation to bring in energy-saving measures that will achieve annual savings in final energy consumption amounting to 45 TWh (federal) and 5 TWh (states) by 2030. Based on the Act, the federal government must incorporate its necessary energy efficiency measures in the next National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) and submit it to the EU Commission.
3. The public sector must set an example in energy saving
In future, the federal government and state authorities will introduce energy or environmental management systems. In addition, the EnEfG stipulates the implementation of energy-saving measures with the aim of achieving 2 percent total final energy savings per year. The federal and state public sector bodies are to decide themselves which measures to take.
4. Introduction of energy or environmental management systems for companies
The EnEfG places companies with a high energy consumption (more than 15 GWh annually) under obligation to introduce energy or environmental management systems and to set out and publish financial energy efficiency measures in concrete plans. The companies decide which energy efficiency measures to take.
5. Energy efficiency and waste heat requirements for Data Centers
New Data Centers will be under obligation to comply with energy efficiency standards, a minimum temperature for air cooling, and waste heat recovery. Existing plants must focus on the efficiency of their electricity consumption. Overall, Data Center operators will be called on to make increased use of electricity from renewable sources in future.
6. Preventing and using waste heat
Better use must be made of waste heat in future. To achieve this, companies will have an obligation to prevent waste heat from production processes or, if prevention is not possible, to use it (waste heat recovery).
Which goals can STULZ products help with?
1. With improved efficiency. We offer solutions that reduce the carbon footprint of Points of Presence (PoPs) to a minimum.
2. With noise prevention.
3. With customization. We develop innovative solutions for specific customer needs.
4. With the use of refrigerants. Our low GWP refrigerants satisfy the F-gas Regulation.
Which conditions of the EnEfG require rapid action from Data Center operators?
Data Centers that will be going into operation by 7/1/2026 must adhere to a PUE of 1.5 from 7/1/2027, and a PUE of 1.3 from 7/1/2030.
Data Centers beginning operations after this date must achieve a PUE of 1.2.
Energy reuse in Data Centers going into operation from July 2026 should be at least 10 percent and will increase by 5 percent in 2027 and by as much again in 2028.
Data Centers must cover 50 percent of their electricity consumption with non-subsidized renewable energy by 2024, and 100 percent by 2027.
