The company tomorrow will detail a pilot project that couples solar power with water-cooled servers that run on high-voltage direct current. The method results in about a 10 percent energy savings by reducing the losses that normally happen in converting from alternating power from the grid to the direct current servers run on, according to Kota Murali, the chief scientist of nanotechnology at IBM India who developed the pilot as a side project.
That level of energy reduction is significant for large data centers with many servers, but the implications of solar and servers are potentially profound for places that don't have access to reliable power, Murali said.
A bank, for example, that wanted to set up a remote branch and operate a data center could use solar power as a way to supplement power from the grid and on-site generators. IBM plans to offer the system in custom engagements next year. Clients in developing countries have already shown an interest.
"Everybody is talking about getting connectivity from the grid. The cities are already overloaded so they need ways to generate local power," Murali said. "You can start connecting unconnected parts of the world using this kind of system."
The system is designed so that power will be pulled from the grid at night or when there isn't sufficient voltage to run servers directly. Power conditioning units dedicated to supplying the data center can automatically switch between power sources.
IBM's India Software Lab in Bangalore has set up a 50-kilowatt rooftop array to power about 20 percent of its data center.
Murali was motivated to work on creating the configuration after hearing a talk on energy-efficient computing. When he realized that modern IBM servers can run on high-voltage direct current, he thought to use solar panels, which produce direct current, as a source.
When wired in series, solar panels can produce sufficient voltage, at between 380 volts and 575 volts, to power a server. In places where the grid is not reliable, data center operators will likely still use a diesel generator backup but the solar panels can reduce their fuel cost and cut carbon emissions, Murali said.
2011年11月2日星期三
2011年3月3日星期四
PSE&G Explains Solar Panels on Poles
As reported in yesterday's Township Committee meeting roundup, representatives of
PSE&G appeared before the Committee on March 1 to answer questions about the solar
panels that are being installed on utility poles throughout town.
PSE&G Director of Renewable Energy Projects Frank Czigler explained that the panels
were part of $515 million investment by PSE&G in solar and renewable energy to meet a
mandate to generate 30% of its energy from renewable resources by 2020. Czigler said
that 200,000 poles statewide will be hosting the 2' x 5' panels. Ultimately, there
should be between 330 to 400 panels on poles in Maplewood (that's 10-15% of the 3,276
PSE&G poles in town).
Czigler said the panels are noiseless, give off no heat, contain no hazardous
chemicals, and are shatterproof. He said tax credits for the panels would lower rate
payers' energy bills but would not show up as a line item reduction on statements.
Czigler and his two cohorts from PSE&G were grilled by Deputy Mayor Fred Profeta who
questioned the safety of the panels. Czigler explained that panels were as safe as any
other fixture on the poles and that poles were selected based on the amount of
southern exposure they received. He assured the town that no trees would be trimmed to
accommodate more sun exposure for any panels. Czigler also added that no panels would
be installed on poles in historic districts.
Czigler said that the panel installations began in Maplewood in mid-December. Patch
noticed and reported on panels appearing around Maplecrest Park in January.
Mayor Vic DeLuca asked, "What right do you have to put these up?" PSE&G Assistant
General Regulatory Counsel David Richter assured the Committee that PSE&G "has every
right" to use public rights of way and its poles to supply and distribute energy.
Profeta, who is deputy mayor for the environment and a founder of Sustainable Jersey,
noted that "There's nothing I'm more in favor of than solar power and renvewable
energy." However, he was disturbed that "We had no conversations [between the town and
PSE&G] beforehand."
Ultimately, DeLuca apologized for not passing along the notification of the program
that he received via phone from PSE&G Public Affairs manager Everton Scott although he
felt that PSE&G should have sent out a letter and visited the committee before
installation.
"I think they're ugly but we are talking about generating renewable energy and getting
off our dependence on fossil fuels. This is the 'new normal' — if I can steal a
phrase from the governor," said Mayor DeLuca, who added that despite his concerns,
"Overall, the program is a good one. We ought to move forward."
PSE&G appeared before the Committee on March 1 to answer questions about the solar
panels that are being installed on utility poles throughout town.
PSE&G Director of Renewable Energy Projects Frank Czigler explained that the panels
were part of $515 million investment by PSE&G in solar and renewable energy to meet a
mandate to generate 30% of its energy from renewable resources by 2020. Czigler said
that 200,000 poles statewide will be hosting the 2' x 5' panels. Ultimately, there
should be between 330 to 400 panels on poles in Maplewood (that's 10-15% of the 3,276
PSE&G poles in town).
Czigler said the panels are noiseless, give off no heat, contain no hazardous
chemicals, and are shatterproof. He said tax credits for the panels would lower rate
payers' energy bills but would not show up as a line item reduction on statements.
Czigler and his two cohorts from PSE&G were grilled by Deputy Mayor Fred Profeta who
questioned the safety of the panels. Czigler explained that panels were as safe as any
other fixture on the poles and that poles were selected based on the amount of
southern exposure they received. He assured the town that no trees would be trimmed to
accommodate more sun exposure for any panels. Czigler also added that no panels would
be installed on poles in historic districts.
Czigler said that the panel installations began in Maplewood in mid-December. Patch
noticed and reported on panels appearing around Maplecrest Park in January.
Mayor Vic DeLuca asked, "What right do you have to put these up?" PSE&G Assistant
General Regulatory Counsel David Richter assured the Committee that PSE&G "has every
right" to use public rights of way and its poles to supply and distribute energy.
Profeta, who is deputy mayor for the environment and a founder of Sustainable Jersey,
noted that "There's nothing I'm more in favor of than solar power and renvewable
energy." However, he was disturbed that "We had no conversations [between the town and
PSE&G] beforehand."
Ultimately, DeLuca apologized for not passing along the notification of the program
that he received via phone from PSE&G Public Affairs manager Everton Scott although he
felt that PSE&G should have sent out a letter and visited the committee before
installation.
"I think they're ugly but we are talking about generating renewable energy and getting
off our dependence on fossil fuels. This is the 'new normal' — if I can steal a
phrase from the governor," said Mayor DeLuca, who added that despite his concerns,
"Overall, the program is a good one. We ought to move forward."
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