IBM, Syracuse University and New York State have entered into a multiyear agreement to build and operate a new computer data center on the University’s campus that will incorporate advanced infrastructure and smarter computing technologies.
According to IBM, the data center is expected to use 50% less energy than a regular data center today, making it one of the ‘greenest’ computer centers. The 6000-square-foot facility costing $12.4m has its own electrical tri-generation system and incorporates energy-efficient computers.
IBM and SU will create a liquid cooling system that will use double-effect absorption chillers to convert the exhaust heat from the microturbines into chilled water to cool the data center’s servers. SU will manage and analyze the performance of the data center, as well as research and develop new energy efficiency analysis and modeling tools.
IBM will provide more than $5m in equipment, design services and support, which includes supplying the electrical cogeneration equipment and servers such as IBM BladeCenter, IBM Power 575 and IBM z10 systems. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is contributing $2m to the project.
Vijay Lund, vice president of development and manufacturing operations for systems and technology group at IBM, said: Energy use is becoming the largest single cost in operating data centers – with $2 billion per year wasted nationally due to inefficiencies – and IBM is dedicated to helping customers reduce electricity consumption to benefit their businesses and the environment.”
