Green data centres: Large-scale storage for Deutsche Telekom

Securing digital infrastructure sustainably

Data centers are among the core infrastructures of the digital society and require a highly reliable energy supply. At the same time, the demand to operate these energy-intensive facilities as sustainably as possible is increasing. Large-scale battery storage systems help to better integrate renewable energy and maintain a stable energy supply for critical infrastructure.

Initial situation

As digitalization increases, so does the energy demand of data centers. At the same time, companies such as Deutsche Telekom are increasingly relying on renewable energy to make their energy supply more sustainable. However, the growing share of wind and solar power leads to greater fluctuations in the power grid. Additional flexibility is therefore required to ensure the reliable operation of telecommunications infrastructure. Battery storage systems make it possible to balance short-term fluctuations in the grid and ensure a continuous power supply.

Project implementation

Together with PASM Power and Air Solution Management GmbH, the energy supplier of the Telekom Group in Germany, INTILION implemented several large-scale battery storage systems at Deutsche Telekom data center sites. In total, three energy storage systems were installed. While an indoor system was integrated in Münster, outdoor systems were deployed at the sites in Hanover and Bamberg.

The storage systems are based on the large-scale system INTILION | scalecube and together achieve a total capacity of around 58 megawatt-hours. The installations include battery systems, inverter technology, as well as transformer and switchgear systems, and are fully integrated into the sites’ energy infrastructure.

Functionality and benefits

The large-scale battery storage systems perform several tasks within the energy supply of the data centers. They can compensate for short-term fluctuations in the power grid and provide frequency containment reserve. In doing so, they stabilize grid frequency and support the secure operation of the power supply.

In addition, the systems are used for balancing group management. This allows supply and demand within the power system to be balanced more effectively and energy flows to be managed efficiently.

Generating green electricity in-house

Deutsche Telekom is continuously expanding the share of renewable energy in its energy supply and plans to generate an increasing portion of its electricity demand from solar and wind power. The company is already relying on renewable energy and plans to produce up to 250 gigawatt-hours of energy from solar and wind itself by 2030.

As part of the energy transition, the share of renewable energy in the power grid is increasing, making energy generation more volatile. To ensure a reliable electricity supply for telecommunications networks around the clock, battery storage systems are required. With the growing share of renewable energy in the energy system, the importance of flexible technologies is also increasing. Large-scale battery storage systems make it possible to balance fluctuations in power generation and contribute to ensuring a stable energy supply for critical digital infrastructure.

"We chose INTILION as a reliable and good partner because the company offers customized solutions and provides both indoor and outdoor systems"

Christopher Mathea
Energy Manager Sustainability Technology at PASM

Customer

PASM Power and Air Condition Solution Management GmbH

Münster, Germany

PASM Power & Air Solutions is the energy supplier for the Deutsche Telekom Group in Germany and ensures the availability of critical infrastructures. This involves the procurement, provision and supply of energy. PASM is sustainably committed to the expansion of renewable energies.

Further information can be found at https://www.pasm.de/

Location(s):

Hanover, Bamberg and Münster, Germany