Natural Gas Generators For Data Centers

A new white paper from INNIO highlights three primary benefits for data centers with natural gas generators.

• Increased reliability
• Reduced emissions
• Opportunities to monetize stranded assets

Data center energy usage has been on a sharp upward trend in recent years, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down.

“Despite efficiency gains over time, with the global expansion of data centers, electricity demand continues to grow. Individual data centers or campuses can require hundreds of kilowatts to meet their power supply needs,” according to Innio.

The first benefit they provide is reliability. Natural gas generators provide cutting edge performance for data centers. Built-in storage with the highly reliable natural gas grid avoids the risks of limited run times and refueling.

The second benefit of having quick-start natural gas generators is that they can lower emissions. The paper sites reductions of 80% to 90% for NOx and up to 25% for carbon dioxide (CO2).

The third benefit discussed in the paper is that natural gas generators provide new monetization opportunities for data centers. Natural gas generators provide data center operators with the chance to engage in demand response, curtailable tariffs and/or emergency standby participation. You get all of these benefits while avoiding coincident peak charges.

Generator Source has many natural gas and diesel generator options for the Data Center community. We also offer the resources to help find the right generator for your application.

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Generator Source sells, buys, and services used industrial generators.

Story Summary

What are the main advantages of using natural gas generators for data centers?
The three primary benefits of natural gas generators for data centers are:
1. Increased reliability - Natural gas generators provide cutting-edge performance and avoid the risks of limited run times and refueling associated with diesel generators.
2. Reduced emissions - Natural gas generators can reduce NOx emissions by 80-90% and CO2 emissions by up to 25% compared to diesel.
3. Monetization opportunities - Natural gas generators allow data centers to participate in demand response programs and avoid peak charges, providing new revenue streams.

How do natural gas generators compare to diesel generators for data centers?

• Natural gas generators offer several advantages over diesel generators for data centers:
• Lower emissions and better environmental profile
• More reliable fuel supply through underground natural gas pipelines
• Potentially lower fuel costs
• Easier permitting due to lower emissions
• Ability to meet 10-second startup time requirements

However, diesel generators may still have advantages in some situations, such as sites without access to natural gas pipelines.

What are some key factors to consider when evaluating natural gas generators for a data center?

• Important considerations include:
• Data center size and power requirements
• Availability and reliability of natural gas supply
• Age of existing backup power systems
• Local utility tariffs and policies
• Site suitability for natural gas infrastructure
• Local permitting requirements

Are there any challenges with implementing natural gas generators in data centers?

• Some potential challenges include:
• Higher initial capital costs compared to diesel (though total cost of ownership may be lower)
• Need for on-site fuel storage to meet uptime requirements
• Design considerations to account for load acceptance profile of natural gas generators
• Possible utility connection upgrades
• Careful evaluation of these factors is needed when considering natural gas generators for a specific data center site.

How do natural gas generators help data centers meet sustainability goals?

• Natural gas generators can help data centers reduce their environmental impact by:
• Lowering greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel generators
• Enabling easier permitting due to lower emissions
• Providing a bridge to potential future use of hydrogen or other low-carbon fuels
• As data centers face increasing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint, natural gas generators offer a cleaner alternative to traditional diesel backup power systems.

 
 

Kyle Smith | 11/11/2021 8:58:24 AM | 0 comments