About this Steering Group
The outcomes of this Steering Group
- A business case analysis of the additional value that can be unlocked by the new proposition.
- A legal framework and contractual setup in which the availability risk is shared between the data center and energy companies.
- A carve-out strategy for existing infrastructure, in order to be able to transform existing data center infrastructure to this new setup.
- A go-to-market strategy and consortium of data centers who will be first movers to implement this new energy service.
- A business model for energy companies and electrical infrastructure manufacturers.
What do organizations gain from participation in the Steering Group?
- Shape the product to meet your internal requirements for returns and asset investment.
- Pilot projects to test the new proposition with pioneering data center customers.
- Access to a full business model to understand the economic model behind the new proposition.
- Collaboration across traditional industry boundaries to develop a new product proposition.
- An improved sustainability and impact case with reduced CO2, electronic waste, and material use.
How are funds and contributions from Steering Group members being used?
- Research and analysis: Modeling the business model and business case for the new proposition as well as a technical reference architecture for implementation.
- Events: Physical and virtual meetings with both the Steering Group as well as utilities, energy companies, and manufacturers.
- Negotiation and legal work: Creating the legal framework risk sharing and a contract template.
- Lobbying and communication: Communicating the proposition to the market, assembling pioneering data centers, as well as lobbying governments to demand electrical infrastructure be the responsibility of the energy sector.
What can I expect from the Steering Group?
- Regular monthly or bimonthly meetings with updates and reading material distributed to all participants.
- Matchmaking between the parties in the group to facilitate the creation of partnerships to deliver the proposition.
- Focus on feedback: SDIA is delivering the business model and financial and impact modeling. The Steering Group is focused on providing input and feedback.
- Moderation and organization performed by SDIA with ample opportunities to provide input and comments.
- Gatherings of all Steering Group members for workshops and networking to further facilitate the Alliance and drive partnership building within the group.
What is the relevance of this project?
- Manufacturers of UPS systems are increasingly capable of implementing value-added services into their products, such as ancillary services.
- Data center operators are risk-averse and are not able to utilize the additional features of modern UPS infrastructure – nor are they willing to make additional investments.
- Energy companies, such as utilities and TSOs/DSOs, are increasingly under pressure to deliver new business models, moving beyond power-as-a-commodity, while adding renewable power capacity and storage/flexibility to the energy system. Data centers present a unique opportunity of a highly-energy intensive business, with existing storage and power load adjustment potential.
- For data centers to become truly carbon-neutral, they need to consume real physical green electricity, which is only possible if they adjust to the volatile production of renewable energy.