ABB will supply an integrated substation to Hypertec to support the expansion of an existing data center, to meet growing demand. As part of the upgrade, the existing 25kV power supply will be enhanced to 120kV, to improve security and reliability of power supplies for the critical facility.
The turnkey project, expected to be completed by the end of 2017, includes the design, supply, installation and commissioning of the 120kV GIS substation with 25kV distribution. At the heart of the solution is a 120 kV Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) housed in a robust, prefabricated structure to facilitate fast installation and commissioning and minimize the need for on-site work in harsh weather conditions. In addition to enabling quick power deployment and cost efficiency, the equipment is designed for high reliability and security standards, especially important in the datacenter industry. The site is located in close proximity to ABB’s new Montreal campus, supporting efficient collaboration during project execution and easy access to ABB expertise post deployment.
“ABB has been a key partner for Hypertec in the construction of our data center. Our infrastructure would not be possible without ABB’s innovative data center technologies and their understanding that uninterruptable intelligent power is a core requirement in a data center,†said Eliot Ahdoot, Executive Vice President of Operations, Hypertec. “We chose to work with ABB as they have a global depth of experience in deploying intelligent grid connections and industrial automation solutions for data centers.â€
“We are pleased to work with a progressive company like Hypertec to enhance power security, reliability and efficiency for this critical data center. Our compact and robust GIS technology is ideal for this project and our innovative approach will enable fast deployment with minimum on-site work†said Patrick Fragman, Managing Director of ABB’s Grid Integration business within the company’s Power Grids division. “Providing reliable and efficient power supply to new and demanding applications like data centers is a key focus area of our Next Level strategy and our value proposition of enabling a stronger, smarter and greener grid.â€
Large data centers are industrial scale operations that can use as much electricity as a small town. They are often located in cold climates to minimize the cost of cooling and related electricity consumption. Montreal’s cool environment is well suited for datacenters with the added advantage of competitive electricity tariffs based almost completely on renewable hydropower. Quebec also offers attractive tax incentives to promote the information technology sector.
Data centers usually operate with ‘redundant’ or backup provisions for critical functional elements like power, data communication connections, environmental controls and security devices. ABB’s solution will serve this need and at the same time provide enhanced power availability and efficiency.
