Mike Hrybyk 4 Bcnet Canarie Green It Workshop Data Centre Feasibility Study

Suite 7300 – SFU Harbour Centre 515 West Hastings Street

Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 5K3Phone: 604.822.1348 Fax: 604.822.9887

www.bc.net - [email protected]

March 4, 2009Green Data Centre Feasibility Study Slide 2

A Green Zero Carbon Data Centre in the BC Interior:

A Feasibility Study

Presented by Mike HrybykPresident and CEO

[email protected]

CANARIE WorkshopMarch 4, 2009

Ottawa


What is BCNET?• Not-for-profit society established 20 years ago • Provides high-speed fibre optic network, often called

advanced networking, to all BC universities and research institutions.

• Operates the province's only high-speed research and education network, the Optical Regional Advanced Network (ORAN), that: enables technological advancement and increases productivity

and innovation for education and research activities; links provincial members to the national and global advanced

Internet; supports world-class projects in the areas of education, health,

physics, the arts and science. • BCNET has always been at the forefront of networking

innovation.


Proposal• Determine demand for green zero carbon

data centre spaceBC Universities primarily

• Determine feasibility of using or building a data centre in the BC Interior

• Look at use of variable hydro power


Why? Campus business drivers• Need for more data centre space

Research big driver Admin SANs, general edtech apps

• Ineffective data centre planning Lots of little ones spread out on campus

• Lack of disaster recovery and business continuity facilities within BC

• Increased power requirements Minimum current power needs for data centres currently at

BCNET members is 2 MW for only administrative use, such as student and financial systems.

For the large research intensive universities (SFU, UBC, UVIC), the scientific computing power consumption is estimated to be minimally double this figure.

So total power draw for BCNET members is estimated at nearly 18 MW.

Furthermore, the power requirements for scientific computing is expected to double over the next 5 years.

• Insufficient power transmission facilities to campuses


Benefits• For the community and the province

Economic development• Zero carbon centre attractive worldwide• Diversification for the BC Interior from forest products and

resource sector Decreased demand on power transmission system Showcase BC as a leader in zero carbon, consistent with

provincial direction• For BCNET campus members

Support for university research – important infrastructure

Disaster recovery and business continuity Efficient power and cooling

• Zero carbon• Significantly lower operating costs


The concept• Build or buy a zero carbon data centre• Use the BCNET/CANARIE ROADM network to connect users

to it • Zero marginal cost for network facilities

• If we build Locate close to a hydro dam

• reduce demand on transmission grid• take advantage of turbine spin-down power, employ “follow the

sun” technology for this Employ next generation data centre architecture

• Modular• Expandable• Lights out, complete telemetry• Efficient

Start small• Initial “proof of concept” project owned and operated by BCNET

with goal of expanding users/revenue and bringing in a private company to operate.


Where should it be located?• MUST be on the ROADM Network• MUST be in the BC Interior


BC - location, location, location• Internet population - BC has a highly connected population with

uptake rates that lead Canada and the US. Many communities have active fibre projects underway or planned.

• Internet peering/network - Vancouver is a major Internet peering point, with excellent connections to the East and to Seattle. Extensive fibre network exists east-to-west connecting to Vancouver and running through the Interior.

• Power pricing - BC has a distinct advantage here.• Power capacity - BC has locations suitable near hydroelectric

generation facilities with extensible power.• Environmental concerns - Use of hydro power and the decreased

need for cooling given a northern climate can help make any data centre environmentally friendly and zero carbon.

• Construction costs - This might be higher in BC, but is offset by other factors, including continuing operations.

• Tax climate - The recent tax regime proposed by the provincial government should make it economical for green data centres to be profitable. Also, emerging carbon credits could be useful.

• IT labor availability - BC has a highly trained IT workforce with top rate universities. Interior locations are close to TRU and UBC Okanagan.

• Corporate citizenship - BC is a leader in green initiatives, indicating excellent corporate citizenship in this area.


Revelstoke? Kamloops? Salmon Arm?


Revelstoke Dam - Intriguing


Context – Columbia River System


Let’s stop here for a minute …• Revelstoke is an interesting idea• But there are other possibilities

KamloopsKelownaSalmon Arm??ROADM network breakout locations

• The feasibility study will examine these options in detail and make recommendations.


Study Outline• location• technology• estimation of carbon offsets• capital and operating cost• financing• market analysis (Who are the users and how much will they

pay?)• growth potential • phased-in implementation• the essential project participants and their required

contribution• performance measurement• risk analysis and management• governance


Green Data Centre: Expressions of Support• CANARIE (Canada’s Advanced Internet

Development Organization)• UBC• UVic• SFU• UNBC• BCIT• Thompson Rivers U• Regional Science Councils: Interior and Kootenays• Research Universities of BC• Provincial Government Climate Action Team


Timeline• Apr 1 2009 – study begins• Dec 1 2010 - Study and full business case

completed• Jan 1 2010 - Presentation to funders• Mar 1 2010 - Commitments from project

participants• Fall 2010 - Construction of Green Data

Centre starts

Mike Hrybyk 4 Bcnet Canarie Green It Workshop Data Centre Feasibility Study

Technology

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