Data centres are essential for storing, processing, and managing data, providing computing power, supporting business operations, enabling cloud services, and serving as the foundation of the internet. They contribute to disaster recovery, connectivity, energy efficiency, research, and economic growth, making them indispensable in the increasingly digital world.
Chengdu Supercomputing Centre, located in Chengdu, has recently made significant advances in adopting advanced energy-saving technology, positioning itself as a leader in the development of green data centres.
This accomplishment was recently recognised at the prestigious 2023 Data Centre Green Development Conference, where the centre was awarded the title “National Green Data Centre” by six prestigious departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the National Energy Administration.
Chengdu Supercomputing Centre was the only data centre in Sichuan Province to receive this distinction among the 43 data centres featured on the 2022 National Green Data Centre List, which includes sectors such as communications, the Internet, public institutions, energy, and finance. This award not only highlights the centre’s commitment to sustainability but also positions it as a model for other institutions throughout the region and beyond.
The success of the Chengdu Supercomputing Centre can be attributed to its construction of both the host system and infrastructure system in accordance with national norms and standards. Utilising cutting-edge energy-saving technologies, such as the immersion phase-change liquid-cooled refrigeration system and the cold-plate liquid-cooled system, the centre has significantly increased its energy efficiency and decreased its environmental impact.
The highly efficient immersion phase-change liquid-cooled refrigeration system utilises a liquid that undergoes a phase change to effectively dissipate heat. This innovative cooling solution not only improves energy efficiency but also reduces the centre’s environmental imprint.
Similarly, the cold-plate liquid-cooled system, which is renowned for its superior cooling efficiency, optimises the centre’s energy consumption, ensuring that all available resources are utilised in the most effective manner.
Chengdu Supercomputing Centre offers a good example for the industry by embracing these innovative energy-saving solutions. As the demand for processing power grows at an exponential rate, data centres play an important role in a variety of industries, including research, banking, and telecommunications. However, data centres’ energy usage can be enormous, making it critical to examine sustainable solutions.
The awarding of the title of “National Green Data Centre” to Chengdu Supercomputing Centre not only recognises its dedication to environmental stewardship but also highlights the feasibility and benefits of incorporating energy-saving technologies into data centre operations. The centre’s achievements demonstrate that energy efficiency and high-performance computing are not mutually exclusive, but may coexist.
The centre’s success will likely motivate other institutions to prioritise energy-saving activities and implement innovative technologies as it continues to set the way for green data centre development. By working together to adopt more sustainable practices the industry can make substantial gains in lowering its carbon footprint and lessening the environmental impact of data centres.
The accomplishment of the Chengdu Supercomputing Centre serves as a reminder that sustainability is a shared responsibility. Data centres may become change agents by embracing sophisticated energy-saving technologies and supporting green practices, accelerating the transition to a greener, more sustainable future.
The award recognises the importance of environmental consciousness in the fast-growing sector of data centres and encourages others to follow suit in their pursuit of energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.
