29 July 2009 | Luca Del Buono

 

New data center projects are taking a closer look at renewable energy sources including solar and wind as a way to improve corporate sustainability, cut energy use and reduce operational costs.

As an example, developers of the Sonoma Mountain Village will dedicate more than 1 megawatt of solar power to a data center project at its Rohnert Park, Calif. campus, a mixed-use community combining offices, retail and housing, reports Data Center Knowledge.

The solar array generates 1.14 megawatts of power, and is expected to power the facility for at least 270 days a year.

Sonoma Mountain told Data Center Knowledge the solar installation, which is located next to the data center, will be able to support up to 250 racks in Data Center Suite 1.

The first phase will be powered by an existing 83,000-square-foot solar array, which has been online since 2006 and currently powers office buildings that house AT&T and Comcast, according to Data Center Knowledge.

The building can switch between energy from the solar array and grid power from an on-site PG&E substation with 9 megawatts of capacity.

Developer Codding Enterprises said in the article that the Sonoma project will be a "less than zero carbon" facility, and projects that it will gain Platinum certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system for energy efficient buildings.

Codding Enterprises also noted that Sonoma Mountain Village is currently the only qualifying site in North America, and one of only five in the world, to meet the United Nations' criteria for "One Planet Community" sustainable development.

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Source: Environmental Leader

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