Data centers already use around 2% of the world’s energy production, and their energy demand is set to increase eightfold — to some 3,200 terawatt hours (TWh) by 2030. On average, 40% of this energy is used by cooling systems to ensure the facility remains operational 24/7. That is why there has never been a greater focus on improving data center power usage effectiveness (PUE) through the increased energy efficiency of the fans, pumps, and compressors that form the heart of data center cooling systems.
Variable frequency drives (VFDs) control speeds of electric motors used in cooling applications so that they use the precise amount of energy required to produce the airflow at any given time. But, not only do they offer increased energy efficient, they also offer reliability, availability, operability, security, serviceability, scalability, and sustainability.