Energy-efficient technologies are gaining traction in data center facilities.

Manoj Nair

Power Generation Business Leader, Cummins India

How is the demand picking up in the data center market? Which are the key demand drivers?

In a digitally connected world, the daily volume of data generated is rapidly increasing. As a result, technology and data are now at the centre of everything. Digital transformation not only accelerates economic growth across all sectors but also serves as the foundation for improved service delivery, social and financial inclusion, productivity improvement, and the creation of a connected ecosystem. This, combined with the government's digital infrastructure initiatives and the multifold increase in internet subscribers, has resulted in an exponential rise in data traffic in India. As data dependence grows, so does the demand for robust, reliable, scalable, and sustainable data centers.

The spike in the demand for data centers has given rise to the requirement for energy to power this IT infrastructure. Data centers require reliable and resilient power infrastructure to run servers, storage devices, networking equipment, chillers, and other components without any disruptions to avoid downtime, data loss, and service unavailability. In the past three years, the data center market has experienced phenomenal growth, and we anticipate that trend to continue for the next three to five years.

What are the key challenges faced in setting up new data centers?

Data centers play a critical role in keeping the global economy productive. Demand for data storage and processing has become insatiable worldwide, which makes it more challenging than ever to operate and scale these facilities efficiently.

Some key challenges faced in setting up new data centers are:

Power management: Despite the dramatic increase in server efficiency, modern servers still consume huge amounts of power. Unplanned downtime is one of the major pain points for data centers. Hence, it is imperative to have reliable power backup to avoid downtime and ensure continuous operations.

Data security: Given the sensitive nature of data, the physical and cyber security of data centers is a concern. Security breaches can result in data loss, reputational damage, and financial losses for organizations.

Scalability and futureproofing: Data centers should be designed with scalability in mind to accommodate future growth and technological advancements. Ensuring that the facility can scale in terms of power, cooling, and floor space can be challenging. Future-proofing the data center against rapid technological changes is also critical to avoiding obsolescence.

Compliance: Data centers must comply with a variety of regulations, including those related to data privacy, security, and environmental impact.

Sustainability considerations: Data centers consume substantial energy and can have a significant environmental impact. Addressing sustainability concerns by implementing energy-efficient designs and managing e-waste responsibly is becoming increasingly important.

Addressing these challenges is vital to ensure the successful setup and operation of new data centers. It usually begins with having reliable and quality-focused partners who can execute projects within the desired timelines but are also able to scale up to meet the demands of this fast-paced segment.

What role do generators play in the uninterrupted power supply?

Generators play a crucial role in providing an uninterrupted power supply. They act as reliable backup power sources, ensuring continuous operations, maximizing uptime, and minimizing the risk of data loss or downtime.

Some of the benefits of gensets in the data center space are:

Reliable power backup source: In the event of a utility power failure or instability, data centers heavily rely on generators to bridge the gap between power outages and the restoration of utility power. Generators serve as a reliable and seamless backup power source, ensuring that critical systems and equipment remain operational.

Abundance and resilience: Data centers often employ a resilient power infrastructure to eliminate single points of failure. Generators are a key component of this setup.

Load balancing: Generators are typically designed to handle the full load of the data center, including servers, networking equipment, cooling systems, and other critical infrastructure. They help balance the power demand and ensure the consistent operation of all equipment during both normal operations and power outage scenarios.

However, supporting any genset with highly responsive and reliable after-market support is essential to ensure uninterrupted operations, data integrity, and business continuity.

How are energy-efficient technologies gaining traction in data center facilities?

Energy-efficient technologies are gaining traction in data center facilities as businesses strive to minimize their environmental impact, optimize energy consumption, and lower operational costs. Various options are available for effective data center operations, including virtualization, server consolidation, real-time monitoring and management of data centers, etc.  As gensets contribute to improving data centers' overall energy efficiency, genset manufacturers are looking into new technologies to aid in the sustainability and energy efficiency of those facilities.

Cummins in India has evolved dramatically over the last 60 years as we pursued our vision of powering the nation and improving people's lives. Our gensets are known for their rugged and dependable performance, ensuring a continuous power supply for data centers. Two of our most significant data center innovations are sophisticated emission control technologies and tailored data center load ratings. We take pride in powering the data centers with a special range of gensets designed for continuous operation, ranging from 750 kVA to 3,750 kVA.

What opportunities do you look forward to in the data center market?

In the data center market, there are several promising opportunities to anticipate, driven by the increasing focus on infrastructure development and the need for robust data centers. Many countries recognize the pivotal role of data centers in enabling digital transformation and economic growth. As a result, they are investing in the expansion of their digital infrastructure, which requires the establishment of reliable and efficient data centers.

A reliable and continuous power supply is critical in supporting the growth of data centers. This necessitates advancements in power generation, backup solutions, and power management technologies. Countries are investing in reliable power infrastructure to ensure data centers can operate seamlessly, even during utility outages or fluctuations.

We at Cummins India are actively involved in offering solutions for the data center industry. We offer a comprehensive range of backup power systems and energy storage solutions. These products help ensure uninterrupted power supply to data centers, safeguarding critical operations and data.

Furthermore, we focus on continuous research and development (R&D) to advance technologies in the data center space. We are investing in innovations related to energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and intelligent power management. Cummins India has been exploring technologies like hybrid power systems and micro grids to optimize energy usage and enhance the sustainability of data centers. We also collaborate with industry partners to develop comprehensive solutions for data centers, integrating power systems with advanced monitoring and control technologies. These efforts aim to increase the reliability, efficiency, and sustainability of data centers while meeting the market’s evolving needs.

The data center market offers significant opportunities driven by infrastructure development and the demand for robust data centers. Cummins India, as a prominent player, is actively engaged in developing power generation solutions and advancing technologies to support the growing data center industry.

Furthermore, we focus on continuous research and development (R&D) to advance technologies in the data center space. We are investing in innovations related to energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and intelligent power management. Cummins India has been exploring technologies like hybrid power systems and micro grids to optimize energy usage and enhance the sustainability of data centers. We also collaborate with industry partners to develop comprehensive solutions for data centers, integrating power systems with advanced monitoring and control technologies. These efforts aim to increase the reliability, efficiency, and sustainability of data centers while meeting the market’s evolving needs. The data center market offers significant opportunities driven by infrastructure development and the demand for robust data centers. Cummins India, as a prominent player, is actively engaged in developing power generation solutions and advancing technologies to support the growing data center industry.