Taking data centre efficiencies to the next level.
For many years, as a country with the cheapest electricity in the world, South African businesses did not place the same focus on energy consumption and efficiency as companies situated in other countries. Now, we are finding that local CIOs have to work more closely with facilities managers to understand consumption and close the gap between facilities and business. So says Eben Owen, E&S manager at APC by Schneider Electric, who believes that these two areas, seen as very much separate in the past, are now bleeding together.
“One area under scrutiny for improved energy efficiency is the data centre, which historically fell within the responsibility of the facilities manager,” he explains. “Increasing power densities and rapid changes in IT technology, coupled with growing energy costs and uncertain long-term plans for capacity or density have flagged the data centre as an area of concern from a consumption perspective.
“Add to this the requirement by cloud computing for applications to be available at all times and it becomes clear that now is the time to take data centre efficiencies to the next level.”
Through the use of a solution like Schneider Electric’s StruxureWare for Data Centres, companies can address all aspects of the data centre physical infrastructure needed to maximise availability and efficiency. “This offering empowers data centre managers by giving them access to all the data and tools they need to operate data centres that are more reliable, efficient, productive, safe and green,” says Owen.
“Data centre environments traditionally rely on management tools that require the knowledge and experience of numerous IT and facility professionals leveraging specialised management dashboards to obtain the information they need. StruxureWare for Data Centres provides a toolset from which the data centre manager can access and manage across the domains of the IT room, building electrical power and power quality, facility and data centre cooling and physical security. This management software suite delivers comprehensive, accurate real-time data enabling them to take action based on the complete picture of the data centre.
“By using this type of approach, companies can gain better control over current inventories and dependencies, implement ‘smart monitoring’ for all critical devices and virtualise wherever possible. This will better prepare them to embrace the future of the data centre, where workloads are based on power and cooling requirements, excess server capacity is powered off when not needed and systems are being used as virtual desktops during the day and for batch processing during the night.”
For more information contact Roz Shuping, APC by Schneider Electric, +27 (0)11 254 6400, [email protected], www.apc.com
Overcoming the bottling industry’s fragmented visibility Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing Electrical Power & Protection
Beverage bottling facilities are among manufacturing’s most energy-intensive environments, yet many still operate without granular insight into where that energy goes. Rezolia Muller-Potluri of Schneider Electric explains how tiered metering architecture and advanced
Read more...What you need is a nerve centre for your building Schneider Electric South Africa
SCADA/HMI
Schneider Electric’s Anoop Hariparsad explains how a building management system acts as a single nerve centre, cutting energy use and improving safety and guest experience.
Read more...New chiller line for high-density AI data centres Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Schneider Electric has launched the Uniflair XCA, a new series of air-cooled and free-cooling chillers designed for artificial intelligence-driven, high-density liquid-cooled data centres.
Read more...Turning system integrators into trusted technology partners Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing System Integration & Control Systems Design
Schneider Electric’s Alliance Partner Programme is repositioning system integrators from hardware suppliers into lifecycle-value partners. Oriel Soupen explains the competency framework, certification model and real-world results that are already helping African system integrators win higher-value, longer-term engagements.
Read more...Schneider Electric introduces next-generation BlokSeT switchboard Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Schneider Electric has launched its next-generation BlokSeT low-voltage switchboard in West Africa, offering high reliability, predictive maintenance capability and digital integration for critical infrastructure and industrial applications.
Read more...How a digital foundation can overcome the LNG trilemma Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing SCADA/HMI
The LNG sector is racing to add capacity, but without a digital backbone, growth creates complexity rather than capability. Christophe Begat of Schneider Electric explains how connecting data, systems and analytics across the LNG value chain can resolve the trilemma of secure supply, lower emissions and tighter costs.
Read more...You can’t digitise a blackout Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Across East Africa, smart meters and AI promise cleaner, more reliable power, but digital tools cannot optimise a grid too weak to carry the load. Schneider Electric’s Symphrose Ochieng sets out why operators should strengthen physical infrastructure first, then add digital capability in phases.
Read more...Decarbonisation is reshaping mining strategy in Africa Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing Electrical Power & Protection
Mining companies across Africa are embedding decarbonisation into operational strategy, driven by investor, regulatory and customer pressure to reduce emissions while improving resilience.
Read more...Africa on the edge of a digital future Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Edge computing promises lower latency, stronger reliability and real-time responsiveness across Africa, yet its rollout keeps colliding with one stubborn obstacle, power. Steven Santini explores how renewable microgrids, smart energy management and the right partnerships could turn the continent’s energy gap into its biggest edge opportunity.
Read more...How the DCS can step off the hardware obsolescence treadmill Schneider Electric South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Ageing servers and unsupported operating systems are quietly eroding the stability of process plants that rely on distributed control systems. Kobus Vermeulen of Schneider Electric explains how virtualising the DCS environment can break the hardware obsolescence cycle without disrupting operations.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version