Service Provider Data Centers Expected to Add 7,000 MW of Capacity in 2018

A new white paper from Navigant Research explores the role data centers will play in the growth of commercial and industrial (C&I) microgrids in North America and the rest of the world.

Data centers are responsible for protecting mission-critical functions, yet, they often rely on an inefficient redundancy of assets that carry a large carbon footprint. Advanced microgrids that leverage IT innovation to create networks offer a solution to this and a more efficient approach to uptime. According to a new white paper from @NavigantRSRCH, in 2018, service provider data centers are expected to add nearly 7,000 MW of capacity—the fastest pace of expansion recorded.

“Rapid growth and the increasing importance of the data center industry makes it too important to continue with a conservative and polluting approach to uptime,” says Peter Asmus, principal research analyst with Navigant Research. “Creative solutions providers are turning to new technologies via new business models that can mitigate risks while increasing performance through options like advanced microgrids.”

According to the report, advanced microgrids for data centers can capture new revenue streams, transforming energy from a cost to profit. They can also increase resilience and sustainability by leveraging cleaner onsite assets through smart and cleaner power infrastructure, and by taking advantage of remote cloud applications to create new forms of distributed resilience.