THE ACCELERATING ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN INDIAN DATA CENTERS INITIATIVE
The energy intensity of data centers, the growth of data center infrastructure in India, and the existing power deficit in the country calls for increased energy efficiency in Indian data centers. A public-private partnership has been working to increase the energy efficiency of data centers in India through market transformation, capacity building for efficient IT/ITES infrastructure, and the transfer of international best practices and benchmarks since 2007.
The initiative is being led by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)-U.S. Department of Energy, and under the guidance of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). The key objective of the initiative is to develop and facilitate implementation of policies and programmes at National level which will improve energy efficiency in Indian data centers. The initiative is now in Phase III. Both Phase I and Phase II are focused on the development of an energy efficiency standard for data centers in India. Although there are a number of energy efficiency standards and guidelines in India, none encompasses all components of a data center. Energy efficiency efforts have typically been limited to conventional building measures, leaving out the more energy intensive opportunities. LBNL and CII-IGBC have continued work to develop standards for data centers in accordance with the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC). The IGBC launched an exclusive rating system for Green Data Centers in 2016.
A previous, related effort was also conducted for USAID ECO-III under the Asia Pacific Partnership (APP).
Phase III Activities: 2017 to present
LBNL and CII-IGBC have continued work to develop standards for data centers in accordance with the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC). The IGBC launched an exclusive rating system for Green Data Centers in 2016.
A key outcome of this phase includes a User Guide for Implementing ECBC in data centers. The purpose of this supplemental guide is to help users identify standards in the ECBC 2017 that pertain specifically to data centers and to offer notes and suggestions for implementation. Access the most recent version of the ECBC User Guide.
As part of the joint initiative, a series of National Workshops and Advisory Group Meetings have been held.
Click here for more information on, and materials from the National Workshops.
Click here for more information on the Advisory Group Meetings, as well as a complete list of Advisory Group Members.
Phase II Activities: December 2015 - December 2016
Phase II of the “Accelerating Energy Efficiency in Indian Data Centers” initiative built on Phase I findings related to international best practices and how existing energy efficiency standards in India could address data centers. The Indian standards central to Phase II were the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC), which is Prescriptive or Performance Based (Mandatory Code); and the Perform, Achieve & Trade (PAT) market-based scheme in which BEE sets sector-specific benchmarks and gives targets to Designated Consumers (DC).
Phase II consisted of two main activities: the development of recommendations for incorporating data center specific requirements into the 2016/2017 revision of ECBC and the evaluation of various Energy Performance Metrics for reporting data center energy efficiency under a PAT-type programme. Comprehensive policy review and stakeholder engagement were instrumental in both activities. View the Phase II white paper. Access the full Phase II report.
Phase I Activities: November 2014 - September 2015
Phase 1 consisted of three main activities: a comprehensive review of existing energy efficiency policy in India and data center standards from around the world; analysis of these international standards for energy efficiency, including metrics, to the Indian context; and stakeholder engagement through an online survey and in-person workshop. View the Phase I Report.