IBM is introducing a range of modular "shrink-wrapped"
datacentres that can deliver energy savings of up to 50%.
The initiative is part of IBM's ongoing
Project Big Green initiative, which was launched a year
ago.
The second phase of Project Big Green intends to improve energy
efficiency by making datacentres more flexible in matching IT needs
to capital and operating costs.
With about 60% of the capital costs and 50% of the operational
costs of running a datacentre being energy related, the ability to
design, construct and activate a highly energy efficient datacentre
has become a business imperative, said IBM.
Designed to power businesses ranging from large global
enterprises to small organisations in remote areas, the new modular
datacentres can reduce energy consumption by as much as 50%, IBM
said.
The range of modular datacentres includes the Enterprise Modular
Data Centre (EMDC), an enterprise-class datacentre "shrink-wrapped"
and standardised from 5,000 square feet up to 20,000 square
feet.
This approach enables clients to bring new datacentres online
three to six months sooner than a custom designed version, IBM
said.
By building in smaller, standardised modules, clients can scale
the starting datacentre capacity by up to 12 times, while matching
their capital and operational costs to their IT needs over
time.
IBM said this approach allows customers to defer up to 40% of
the capital expense and 50% of the operational expense until the
capacity is required.
In addition, there is also the Portable Modular Data Centre
(PMDC) to provides a fully functional data centre in a pod-like
form, with a complete physical infrastructure including power and
cooling systems and remote monitoring. The PMDC can be shipped and
deployed into any environment.
Finally, there is the High Density Zone (HDZ) datacentre
offering, a modular system that provides incremental cooling and
power capabilities in existing datacentres that have already
reached capacity.
The HDZ system can be swapped into an existing datacentre
without disrupting current operations, and can provide up to 35%
cost savings compared to retrofitting an existing datacentre, IBM
said.