Data centers go diesel-free to generate energy storage

How can renewable diesel help a data center?

With data center energy consumption projected to rise, addressing backup power sustainability becomes crucial. Renewable diesel provides a bridge toward cleaner operations, helping generators maintain reliability while aligning with global carbon reduction goals.

Can a diesel backup generator decarbonize a data center?

Traditionally, these backup generators have run on fossil diesel, which is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For diesel-powered backup generators, renewable diesel, also known as hydrotreated vegetable oil or HVO100, has been used by several data center operators around the world as a solution to decarbonize backup generators.

Should data centers use diesel generators?

Diesel generators commit data center owners to another twenty years of fossil fuel dependency, and their usage by data centers runs counter to US and EU climate goals. Further, due to their non-modular nature, backup diesel generators could limit the expansion of data center operations as needs evolve over time.

Can ESS replace diesel generators in data centers?

Additionally, ESS can replace diesel generators in data centers. ESS technologies include batteries (e.g., lithium-ion), flywheels, and compressed air energy storage. Among these, batteries, specifically Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), are the most common.

Are battery energy storage systems a viable alternative to diesel gensets?

As renewable energy systems proliferate, the more cost-effective, sustainable, and versatile alternative to diesel gensets is a battery energy storage system (BESS), which are positioned to change the way data centers are powered.

Do data centers use a backup generator?

However, data centers consume a significant amount of energy, and a portion of that energy is used to power backup generators. Traditionally, these backup generators have run on fossil diesel, which is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.