06 Mar 2009

'Reduce energy output' with new innovation

Researchers at a US university have developed an application designed to save up to three-quarters of energy output.

A team at the University of Michigan have pioneered the PowerNap, which is intended to power down servers which are not in use.

The innovation can save power which is otherwise needlessly wasted, according to Thomas Wenisch, assistant professor in the department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

"For the typical industrial data centre, the average utilization is 20 to 30 per cent. The computers are spending about four-fifths of their time doing nothing," he explains.

Currently-employed techniques such as dynamic frequently and voltage scaling are not adequate at conserving power, professor Wenisch adds.

He concludes that the device would require a new operating system, though the majority of the technology needed already exists within servers.

A recent survey conducted by the Turret Group of attendees at the Data Centre World exhibition reveals fewer than one in eight people in data centre management intend to implant new energy-saving solutions to improve environmental credentials.