Artificial intelligence and machine learning to cut energy use by 10 percent for global data center provider
Singapore-headquartered ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) is one of the fastest growing data center providers, with over 130 facilities in Singapore, the UK, India, Thailand, South Korea and Indonesia. STT GDC aims to become net carbon-neutral by 2030 – and to achieve this, it will need to improve its data center energy efficiency.
Decision makers at STT GDC are considering a range of options to achieve this important goal, including alternative energy sources, optimizing water use, new construction technologies, and innovative cooling solutions. One step that the organization is already taking is applying artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to identify opportunities for energy optimization in its data centers.
In partnership with ABB, the STT GDC team is actively developing AI-based optimization models for the entire data center cooling plant, including the upstream chiller and distribution systems. Using sensors placed throughout the system, STT GDC will track and analyze data to facilitate dynamic cooling optimization and create a more energy efficient data center.
The first phase of the project will involve data exploration, modelling and validation using historical data. This will establish how digital solutions would impact existing operations and energy use, and reveal areas for improvement. The next phase will involve testing AI control logic in a real data center environment. The project targets energy savings of 10 percent within the cooling system – the most energy-intensive component of a data center.
“Our group’s AI roadmap will take a big leap forward with this pilot program. The vast amounts of data that can be captured and harnessed in a live data center environment makes for a strong base for AI applications, which can also be applied to other business processes, including capacity planning, risk mitigation and predictive maintenance,” explains Daniel Pointon, Group Chief Technology Officer, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres.
“At ABB, we have a strong track record of supporting data center operators with our best-in-class technology solutions. We are committed to exploring the synergies between our offerings with STT GDC as it embarks on an ambitious plan,” adds Madhav Kalia, Global Head of Data Center Automation at ABB.
