The situation from 50,000 feet

Many countries have defined their zero net-carbon objectives together with ambitious delivery timescales. These targets are generally based upon the decarbonisation of residential heating and the introduction of transportation ULEZs (ultra-low emissions zones), the phasing out of new ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles and the adoption of electric vehicles. Where well designed, data centres can significantly contribute to these targets in urban environments.

Decarbonisation

sineQN’s approach to sustainability is all-encompassing. From minimising embodied carbon to energy sourcing an export, we work with our consultants to ensure that boundaries are pushed for every project. We are currently working on the first ambient heat loop at scale in the U.K. to utilise captured heat from data centres.
The Future

Data centres and clean
technology in cities are
undergoing a fascinating evolution

Environmental Shift

Data centres and clean technology in cities are on the brink of a revolutionary transformation, destined to intertwine more closely with urban food technologies such as hydroponics and vertical farming. As we advance, data centre development is set to morph into distributed local networks, seamlessly integrated within the smart cities of the future. This paradigm shift demands a long-term strategic commitment to energy and town planning policies, positioning the data centre as a valued and environmentally responsible community member. Water, an increasingly precious resource, is central to the operation of modern data centres. At sineQN, we're pioneering the adoption of innovative water-saving solutions and developing alternatives to ensure sustainable operations.

Generator-less future

The shift towards a generator-less future is gaining momentum as data centre operators weigh the environmental and cost implications of using fossil fuel backup generators. With policies in some European cities already curtailing the use of diesel or gas backup generation, the trend towards stricter regulations is expected to broaden, urging urban data centres to consider future-proof designs. This movement is underscored by the tangible impact of data centre legislation on local air quality, as evidenced by Frankfurt's rigorous BimSch requirements for backup generator emissions. Such initiatives herald a broader European shift towards low carbon and clean air policies, with sineQN at the forefront of designing resilient grid networks that negate the need for traditional backup generators, ushering in a new era of environmentally conscious data centre development.

Water Usage
Another increasingly scarce utility, water is essential to most modern data centre operations. However, the choice of innovative solutions to reduce water use is evolving and sineQN are experienced in assessing those solutions as well as developing alternatives.
Site Selection
The sustainability of a location becomes a key site selection criterion for data centres, so that server heat energy can be recycled and power storage capacities can be flexed to support grid stabilisation or microgrids where permitted.

With local grid network resilience we are working towards eliminating back-up generators

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