The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has partnered with Clarkson University, Advanced Micro Devices Inc., HP and other private businesses to research the clean energy potential in combining data centers with wind power.
Data centers, which are large computer servers used by large corporations, hospitals, colleges and businesses, can consume as much as one megawatt of electricity at times of peak operation, enough to power about a thousand average homes, NYSERDA says.
NYSERDA is investing $300,000 in the project, which will leverage an additional $374,000 in private funding.
Clarkson engineers and students will attempt to create a clean energy driven Performance Optimized Data Center (POD) based on “cloud computing.” Sites would be installed at various wind power stations in the state, where data processing would be routed through fiber-optic networks to the site generating the most wind power at any given time.
This system will make use of excess wind power, which is often wasted because only a certain amount can be moved across the grid at any given time, said NYSERDA Communication Specialist Alan Wechsler. It’s easier and more efficient to switch data processing through phone lines than to increase power production when it’s needed through traditional means like large gas and oil burning plants, he said.
Up to 8 percent of power produced is lost due to resistance as electricity travels along a cable, making a system that uses power where it is produced more efficient.
The initial demonstration phase of the project will take 12 to 18 months and focus mostly on wind, but NYSERDA aims to expand the project and use solar technology in the future, Wechsler said.
“One way for the New York economy to grow is for us to think about the way we use electricity more intelligently and efficiently to power business technology,” said NYSERDA CEO Francis Murray. “NYSERDA is pleased to be supporting this project. We believe it can serve as a model for technology based businesses and can help grow high-tech jobs in New York State.”