中國儲能網訊：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.
能源數據中心擁有復雜的電力網絡，包括在 UPS 中存儲能量以保證連續(xù)性的電池，以及消耗能量的機架和運維設備。設施還始終包括發(fā)電——最常見的是備用柴油發(fā)電機。越來越多的設施將其改為由氫或甲烷驅動的燃料電池，或者教導發(fā)電機使用可再生的 HVO 而不是化石燃料。各個站點還涌現了風力渦輪機和太陽能電池板，它們?yōu)閿祿行奶峁┠茉?，或者可能通過電網向外界提供能源。當 UPS 電池可用于“快速頻率響應”時，這種向外流動也可能發(fā)生，從而在高電力需求時期支撐電網。
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”。國家電網包括發(fā)電、配電和用電。他們也有管理。他們有控制器來保持設備運行并為所有消費者提供服務。數據中心在小范圍內包含了其中的大部分，因此通常被稱為微電網。但要真正成為微電網，它應該是一個本地電力系統可以自主運行、甚至獨立于本地電網運行的域。它還應該有一個控制器。
When the utility can't provide
當遇到公用電網難以供電的情景
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.
當前微電網流行的背后是人們擔心當地公用電網不會總是像數據中心希望的那樣可靠。這是真正的恐懼。在發(fā)展中國家，電網仍在建設中并使其完全可靠。即使在像南非這樣相當“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，微電網將被許多人視為必要的一步。但它們并不是一個神奇的解決方案。如果您采用該選項，您就認為公用電網對您來說不夠好。也許它不夠可靠，也許它不夠環(huán)保，或者也許不夠及時。在許多情況下，公用事業(yè)公司根本無法在您需要的時間和地點分配電力。北弗吉尼亞州、都柏林、新加坡和倫敦等數據中心中心將大量容量需求聚集在一處。排隊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，許多數據中心提供商認為他們可以比當地公用電網做得更好。大多數數據中心已經邁出了這一步，投資了備用發(fā)電，以彌補公用電網的短期問題。但邁向微電網是一個更大的進步。它涉及成為真正的電力供應商。根據您所在的國家/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更快，因此一些地區(qū)正在轉向完全獨立的微電網。
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.
但進入發(fā)電領域并不是數據中心行業(yè)的核心業(yè)務。除了財務方面的潛在好處外，您還必須考慮成本。您必須在組織內培養(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計和運營您的微電網的合作伙伴。從本質上講，這是一個賭注，即您所在場所的小型電網運營商將成為比當地公用事業(yè)公司更好、更可靠、反應更靈敏的合作伙伴。而且，無論獨立于當地電網的誘惑如何，您都將無法孤立運營。您的數據中心可能想要調用本地電網，也許反轉舊的角色，并使用電網作為您現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.
您的微電網還需要公用電網作為合作伙伴，以充分利用您產生的任何剩余能源。在這里值得建議的是，只要有足夠的存儲空間，您的微電網應該能夠通過存儲多余的能源并選擇何時提供它來賺取利益。
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.
將您的數據中心變成一個發(fā)電站，一個反應靈敏的電源，您將產生的不僅僅是電力。您的微電網可以減輕對當地電網的需求，甚至可能避免安裝新的發(fā)電機和塔。除了電力之外，如果數據中心行業(yè)要繼續(xù)按其希望的方式增長，您還可以產生所需的商譽。
