The key goal of edge computing, an emerging sector, is to provide faster service of online content to a user population with reliability and enhanced connectivity based upon moving the servers in closer proximity to the user and the data. To those who work in the edge computing sector, it would be helpful to review similar issues that have arisen in the distributed energy generation (DG) industry, which locates small generators near or within the facilities of users. This article focuses on conceptual parallels between the DG and edge data center sectors. Where there are parallels, there are also lessons to be learned.
The paramount driving concept in each sector is that there are benefits associated with locating the service provider close to the user and the source of energy (with DG) or the data (with edge computing).