A holistic design of an energy-efficient data center with solar PV integration

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 10 Sayı: 3, 787 - 806, 25.09.2025

Muhammed Burak Oyacı , Önder Kızılkan

https://doi.org/10.58559/ijes.1750386

Öz

The rapid growth of digital services has increased the demand for energy-intensive data centers, making sustainability and efficiency essential design priorities. This study presents the design and performance evaluation of a Tier III-compliant, 500 m² data center tailored to Ankara’s climatic conditions. Cooling loads were calculated using the CLTD method, resulting in a total internal heat gain of 470.63 kW, which guided the sizing of CRAH units and free-cooling-capable chillers. Detailed thermal analysis was combined with architectural planning, including cold aisle containment and raised flooring, to optimize airflow and energy use. The UPS system was sized at 462 kW to ensure continuous operation of critical loads, supported by redundant power generation. A rooftop PV system of 85.05 kWp was integrated, producing 192 MWh annually and covering 2.07% of the 9.28 GWh yearly demand, yielding cost savings of ~727,102 TRY. A ground-mounted PV system of 29.33 MWp was also proposed to meet the full annual energy demand, with an estimated saving potential of ~35.066 M TRY. The results demonstrate how integrating precise load estimation, energy-efficient cooling, and renewable generation can reduce both operational costs and environmental impact in mission-critical facilities, providing a replicable model for similar climates.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Data center , Sustainability , Solar energy , Energy efficiency

Kaynakça

• [1] Kocakuşak R. Solar energy of the renewable energy sources, the importance of Turkey and installation of GES research. MSc Thesis, Maltepe University, Institute of Social Sciences, Department of Business Administration, Istanbul, Turkey, 2018, 99 pp. (In Turkish)
• [2] Szlazak J, Szlazak RA. Access to primary energy sources - the basis of national energy security. Mater Sci Eng 2017; 268: 012002. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/268/1/012002
• [3] BP. Statistical Review of World Energy, 71st ed. London, UK, 2022. [Online] Available at: https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/pdfs/energy-economics/statistical-review/bp-stats-review-2022-full-report.pdf (Accessed: January 2023).
• [4] Energy Institute. Statistical Review. [Online] Available at: https://www.energyinst.org/statistical-review (Accessed: 13 July 2023).
• [5] Vasques TL, Moura P, de Almeida A. A review on energy efficiency and demand response with focus on small and medium data centers. Energy Efficiency 2019; 12: 1399–1428. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-018-9753-2
• [6] GEPA. Güneş Enerji Potansiyel Atlası. [Online] Available at: https://gepa.enerji.gov.tr/MyCalculator/pages/6.aspx (Accessed: 15 February 2023).
• [7] T.C. Enerji ve Tabii Kaynaklar Bakanlığı, Ankara. [Online] Available at: https://enerji.gov.tr/bilgi-merkezi-enerji-gunes (Accessed: 12 July 2023).
• [8] Greenberg S, Mills E, Tschudi B, Rumsey P, Myatt B. Best practices for data centers: Lessons learned from benchmarking 22 data centers. Proc ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Asilomar, CA, USA, August 2006, 3: 76-87.
• [9] Pan Y, Yin R, Huang Z. Energy modeling of two office buildings with data center for green building design. Energy Build 2008; 40(7): 1145-1152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2007.10.008
• [10] Nada SA, Said MA, Rady MA. CFD investigations of data centers' thermal performance for different configurations of CRACs units and aisles separation. Alex Eng J 2016; 55(2): 959–971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2016.02.025
• [11] Türkmen İ. Experimental investigation of UHEM data center termal profile and CFD analysis. MSc Thesis, Istanbul Technical University, Graduate School of Science, Istanbul, Turkey, 2019, 124 pp. (In Turkish)
• [12] Erden HS, Türkmen İ. Energy and economic analysis of the bypass method for the computer room air conditioning units of a small data center. J Fac Eng Archit Gazi Univ 2022; 37(4): 1883–1898. (In Turkish)
• [13] Dörterler M, Ateş V, Açıkgöz M. Founding a University Data Center: A Case of Gazi University. In: Akademik Bilişim’12 - XIV. Proc Akademik Bilişim’12 – XIV. Akademik Bilişim Konferansı, Uşak, Turkey, 1–3 Feb 2012, pp. 309–315. (In Turkish)
• [14] Sharma M, Arunachalam K, Sharma D. Analyzing the data center efficiency by using PUE to make data centers more energy efficient by reducing the electrical consumption and exploring new strategies. Procedia Comput Sci 2015; 48: 142–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2015.04.163
• [15] Yüzgeç U, Günel A. Energy planning of a data center for universities. Bilecik Seyh Edebali Univ J Sci 2016; 2(2): 17–24 (In Turkish)
• [16] Sürücü M. Container data center detailed design, power calculations and device selections. MSc Thesis, Yildiz Technical University, Graduate School of Science, Istanbul, Turkey, 2016, 101 pp. (In Turkish)
• [17] Demir MT. Integration of BMS, PMS, and DCIM in data centers. Proc 5th Building Electronic Systems Symposium (Yapı Elektronik Sistemleri Sempozyumu), Izmir, Turkey, 2017. (In Turkish)
• [18] Zhang Y, Wei Z, Zhang M. Free cooling technologies for data centers: Energy saving mechanism and applications. Energy Procedia 2017; 143: 410–415.
• [19] Woodruff JZ, Brenner P, Buccellato AP, Go DB. Environmentally opportunistic computing: A distributed waste heat reutilization approach to energy-efficient buildings and data centers. Energy Build 2014; 69: 41–50.
• [20] Ali K, Raman G, Xiao W, Peng JCH. A GaN-based high step-up half-bridge resonant converter for interfacing PV modules to DC data centers. Proc IEEE 4th Int Future Energy Electron Conf (IFEEC), Singapore, 1–4 Apr 2019, pp. 1–8.
• [21] Abiodun K. Digital infrastructure & sustainable data centers investment in Africa: Role of Tier III & Tier IV. Int J Multidiscip Res Growth Eval 2025; 6(1): 1878–1888.
• [22] Küçükçalı R, Arısoy A. Klima Tesisatı, Isısan Çalışmaları No. 305. Isısan Akademi, Istanbul, Turkey, 2001
• [23] ASHRAE Releases Revised Version of Data Center Standard. [Online] Available at: https://www.ashrae.org/about/news/2019/ashrae-releases-revised-version-of-data-center-standard (Accessed: 21 February 2023).
• [24] Awe O, Shah JM, Agonafer D, Singh P, Kannan N, Kaler M. Experimental description of information technology equipment reliability exposed to a data center using airside economizer operating in recommended and allowable ASHRAE envelopes in an ANSI/ISA classified G2 environment. J Electron Packag 2020; 142(2): 024501. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4046556
• [25] Sunbird. What's the Best PUE Ratio for Data Centers? [Online] Available at: https://www.sunbirddcim.com/blog/whats-best-pue-ratio-data-centers (Accessed: 1 June 2023).
• [26] Cole D. Fundamentals of Data Center Power: Power Calculations. [Online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mTLJzPOSI0 (Accessed: 1 May 2023).
• [27] CW-Enerji. Solar Panel Catalogue. [Online] Available at: https://cw-enerji.com/en/product/cw-enerji-675wp-132pm-m12-hc-mb-solar-panel-772.html (Accessed: 13 May 2023).
• [28] Nassar YF, Salem MA, Iessa KR, AlShareef IM, Ali KA, Fakher MA. Estimation of CO2 emission factor for the energy industry sector in Libya: a case study. Environment, Development and Sustainability 2021;23:13998–14026.
• [29] EPDK. Energy Market Regulatory Authority. [Online] Available at: https://www.epdk.gov.tr/Home/En (Accessed: 17 April 2023).