中國儲能網(wǎng)訊：Data centers are host to a complex electrical power network, including batteries storing energy in the UPS for continuity, and the racks and O&M equipment where the energy is consumed. Facilities have also always included power generation - most usually in the form of diesel generators for backup. Facilities are increasingly changing these for fuel cells, powered by hydrogen or methane, or teaching the generators to drink renewable HVO instead of fossil fuel. Sites are also sprouting wind turbines and solar panels which contribute energy to the data center, or potentially to the outside world through the grid. That outward flow can also happen when UPS batteries are made available for “fast frequency response,” bolstering the grid in times of high-power demand.
能源數(shù)據(jù)中心擁有復(fù)雜的電力網(wǎng)絡(luò)，包括在 UPS 中存儲能量以保證連續(xù)性的電池，以及消耗能量的機(jī)架和運(yùn)維設(shè)備。設(shè)施還始終包括發(fā)電——最常見的是備用柴油發(fā)電機(jī)。越來越多的設(shè)施將其改為由氫或甲烷驅(qū)動(dòng)的燃料電池，或者教導(dǎo)發(fā)電機(jī)使用可再生的 HVO 而不是化石燃料。各個(gè)站點(diǎn)還涌現(xiàn)了風(fēng)力渦輪機(jī)和太陽能電池板，它們?yōu)閿?shù)據(jù)中心提供能源，或者可能通過電網(wǎng)向外界提供能源。當(dāng) UPS 電池可用于“快速頻率響應(yīng)”時(shí)，這種向外流動(dòng)也可能發(fā)生，從而在高電力需求時(shí)期支撐電網(wǎng)。
In recent times, we’ve referred to this as “microgrid.” National grids include power generation, distribution, and consumption. They also have management. They have controllers that keep the thing running and serving all the consumers. Data centers include most of this on a small scale, so it’s often referred to as a microgrid. But to truly be a microgrid, it should be a domain, where the local power system can operate autonomously, perhaps even independently, of the local grid. It should also have a controller.
最近，我們將其稱為“微電網(wǎng)”。國家電網(wǎng)包括發(fā)電、配電和用電。他們也有管理。他們有控制器來保持設(shè)備運(yùn)行并為所有消費(fèi)者提供服務(wù)。數(shù)據(jù)中心在小范圍內(nèi)包含了其中的大部分，因此通常被稱為微電網(wǎng)。但要真正成為微電網(wǎng)，它應(yīng)該是一個(gè)本地電力系統(tǒng)可以自主運(yùn)行、甚至獨(dú)立于本地電網(wǎng)運(yùn)行的域。它還應(yīng)該有一個(gè)控制器。
When the utility can't provide
當(dāng)遇到公用電網(wǎng)難以供電的情景
Behind the current popularity of microgrids is the fear that local utility grids are not going to always be as reliable as the data center desires them to be. That’s a real fear. In developing countries, grids are still being established and made fully reliable. Even in quite “well-off” countries like South Africa, there are well-publicized electricity problems, which make that more than a fear, but a certainty.
當(dāng)前微電網(wǎng)流行的背后是人們擔(dān)心當(dāng)?shù)毓秒娋W(wǎng)不會總是像數(shù)據(jù)中心希望的那樣可靠。這是真正的恐懼。在發(fā)展中國家，電網(wǎng)仍在建設(shè)中并使其完全可靠。即使在像南非這樣相當(dāng)“富?！钡膰?，也存在廣為人知的電力問題，這不僅僅是一種恐懼，而是一種必然。
So microgrids are going to be seen by many as a necessary step. But they are not a magic solution. If you adopt that option, you are deciding that the utility grid is not going to be good enough for you. Maybe it’s not reliable enough, maybe it is not green enough, or maybe not timely enough. In many cases, the utility is simply not able to distribute the power where and when you need it. Data center hubs like Northern Virginia, Dublin, Singapore, and London aggregate vast amounts of capacity demand in one place. Queues for capacity can be long.
因此，微電網(wǎng)將被許多人視為必要的一步。但它們并不是一個(gè)神奇的解決方案。如果您采用該選項(xiàng)，您就認(rèn)為公用電網(wǎng)對您來說不夠好。也許它不夠可靠，也許它不夠環(huán)保，或者也許不夠及時(shí)。在許多情況下，公用事業(yè)公司根本無法在您需要的時(shí)間和地點(diǎn)分配電力。北弗吉尼亞州、都柏林、新加坡和倫敦等數(shù)據(jù)中心中心將大量容量需求聚集在一處。排隊(duì)等候容量可能會很長。
Given that, a lot of data center providers are deciding that they can do a better job than the local utility grid. Most data centers are already part of the way there, having invested in backup power generation that can make up for short-term problems on the utility grid. But going to a microgrid is a bigger step. It involves becoming an actual electricity provider. Depending what country you are in, this may add regulatory hurdles. It will mean a more demanding planning application and approval process. In areas with high demand, that process may still be quicker than waiting for connection to the public grid, so some are moving towards fully independent microgrids.
鑒于此，許多數(shù)據(jù)中心提供商認(rèn)為他們可以比當(dāng)?shù)毓秒娋W(wǎng)做得更好。大多數(shù)數(shù)據(jù)中心已經(jīng)邁出了這一步，投資了備用發(fā)電，以彌補(bǔ)公用電網(wǎng)的短期問題。但邁向微電網(wǎng)是一個(gè)更大的進(jìn)步。它涉及成為真正的電力供應(yīng)商。根據(jù)您所在的國家/地區(qū)，這可能會增加監(jiān)管障礙。這將意味著更嚴(yán)格的規(guī)劃申請和審批流程。在需求高的地區(qū)，該過程可能仍然比等待連接到公共電網(wǎng)更快，因此一些地區(qū)正在轉(zhuǎn)向完全獨(dú)立的微電網(wǎng)。
Do you want to take this step?
你想邁出這一步嗎？
But moving into power generation is not a core business for the data center sector. Alongside the potential benefits in financial terms, you will have to consider the costs. You will have to develop a whole new set of expertise within your organization.
但進(jìn)入發(fā)電領(lǐng)域并不是數(shù)據(jù)中心行業(yè)的核心業(yè)務(wù)。除了財(cái)務(wù)方面的潛在好處外，您還必須考慮成本。您必須在組織內(nèi)培養(yǎng)一套全新的專業(yè)知識。
It may be more likely that you will find a partner who can design and operate your microgrid. Essentially, this becomes a bet that a small grid operator on your premises will be a better, more reliable, and more responsive partner than the local public utility. And, no matter the lure of becoming independent of the local grid, you will not able to operate in isolation. Your data center may want to call on the local grid, perhaps reversing the old roles, and using the grid as a backup to the primary power supply you now own.
您更有可能找到可以設(shè)計(jì)和運(yùn)營您的微電網(wǎng)的合作伙伴。從本質(zhì)上講，這是一個(gè)賭注，即您所在場所的小型電網(wǎng)運(yùn)營商將成為比當(dāng)?shù)毓檬聵I(yè)公司更好、更可靠、反應(yīng)更靈敏的合作伙伴。而且，無論獨(dú)立于當(dāng)?shù)仉娋W(wǎng)的誘惑如何，您都將無法孤立運(yùn)營。您的數(shù)據(jù)中心可能想要調(diào)用本地電網(wǎng)，也許反轉(zhuǎn)舊的角色，并使用電網(wǎng)作為您現(xiàn)在擁有的主電源的備份。
Your microgrid will also want the utility grid as a partner, to make good use of any surplus energy you generate. It’s worth suggesting here that, with enough storage, your microgrid should be able to make good money by storing that surplus energy and choosing when to offer it.
您的微電網(wǎng)還需要公用電網(wǎng)作為合作伙伴，以充分利用您產(chǎn)生的任何剩余能源。在這里值得建議的是，只要有足夠的存儲空間，您的微電網(wǎng)應(yīng)該能夠通過存儲多余的能源并選擇何時(shí)提供它來賺取利益。
Win friends and influence
贏得朋友和影響力
Turn your data center into a power station, a responsive power source, and you will generate more than electricity. Your microgrid could ease demands on local grids, maybe even avoiding new generators and pylons. As well as power, you could produce the goodwill that the data center sector needs if it is to keep growing the way it hopes.
將您的數(shù)據(jù)中心變成一個(gè)發(fā)電站，一個(gè)反應(yīng)靈敏的電源，您將產(chǎn)生的不僅僅是電力。您的微電網(wǎng)可以減輕對當(dāng)?shù)仉娋W(wǎng)的需求，甚至可能避免安裝新的發(fā)電機(jī)和塔。除了電力之外，如果數(shù)據(jù)中心行業(yè)要繼續(xù)按其希望的方式增長，您還可以產(chǎn)生所需的商譽(yù)。
