Application of Solar Photovoltaic Systems in Data Center Construction

The current booming development of the internet industry, AI technology, and short video fields is leading the wave of the digital age and bringing convenience to most people. With the continuous expansion of the user base and the increasing growth of storage and computing needs, the construction and development of data centers have also ushered in a boom. As the core infrastructure for data storage, processing, and transmission, data centers are becoming increasingly important. However, the energy consumption problem of data centers that need to operate 7x24h is also becoming increasingly prominent, and the urgency and importance of green data center construction are self-evident. The "Special Action Plan for Green and Low-Carbon Development of Data Centers" issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments clearly proposes to increase the utilization rate of renewable energy in newly built data center projects year by year and promote the green and low-carbon transformation of data centers. Currently, some leading data centers have adopted advanced energy-saving technologies and renewable energy as means of carbon reduction; the popularization and promotion of technologies such as liquid cooling, cold storage, and high-voltage direct current, as well as the widespread application of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy, have achieved significant energy-saving effects. These practices have not only reduced the operating costs of data centers but also made positive contributions to environmental protection.

 

1 Potential and Advantages of Solar Photovoltaic Systems in Green Data Center Design

 

1.1 Solar Energy is a Green Renewable Energy Source

 

Solar energy is an abundant renewable energy source, mainly utilized through two methods: photothermal conversion and photovoltaic conversion. Photovoltaic power generation is the main way to utilize solar energy, and its power generation continues to grow. Solar energy resources are widely distributed, especially suitable for use in resource-rich areas such as the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Northwest region. Combining solar energy with building rooftops or unobstructed areas such as mountains can significantly reduce data center energy consumption and electricity costs.

 

Figure 1 Solar photovoltaic system installed in the mountains

 

1.2 The efficiency of solar photovoltaic systems is gradually increasing

 

In recent years, advances in materials science and technological innovation have significantly improved the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of solar energy, such as domestic enterprises HPBC2.0 crystalline silicon components with a photovoltaic efficiency of 27.3%, setting a world record for single-layer crystalline silicon components. At the same time, the efficiency of perovskite/silicon double-layer single-chip batteries has also exceeded 25%. Both traditional crystalline silicon and emerging perovskite batteries are improving efficiency through technological innovation and promoting the development of photovoltaic technology. With technological maturity and commercialization, solar photovoltaic systems will be able to utilize solar energy more effectively in the future.

 

1.3 Flexibility and Scalability of Solar Photovoltaic Systems

 

Currently, most solar photovoltaic modules are composed of multiple independent modules, each of which can operate independently, and even if a malfunction occurs, it will not affect the operation of the entire system. This modular design makes installation and maintenance very simple, and maintenance personnel can replace or repair damaged components without affecting other parts. Based on modular solar photovoltaic systems, the installation location and capacity of the solar photovoltaic system can be selected according to the power demand and site conditions. As the scale of the data center expands, or the number of photovoltaic components can be gradually increased according to the power demand, reducing upfront capital investment.

 

1.4 Solar photovoltaic systems have inherent advantages in data center buildings

 

To ensure the continuity of data center operation, data centers are equipped with uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). When the main power supply fails or is cut off, the UPS system can immediately switch to battery power to ensure the continuous operation of key equipment and servers until the standby generator starts or the main power supply is restored. This part of the energy storage battery can also be used for peak shaving and valley filling; if the solar photovoltaic system is linked to the data center's battery storage system, it is also unnecessary to add additional energy storage batteries to the photovoltaic system. Using energy distribution software for control can increase the energy storage capacity of the solar photovoltaic system to meet more power needs, such as reducing external power consumption during peak hours to save electricity costs.

 

 

Figure 2 Schematic diagram of data center photovoltaic building integrated (BIPV) system participating in source-grid-load-storage and waste heat recovery system

 

Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems are constantly improving in popularity and application. They integrate solar photovoltaics with building design, serving as both building components and power generation, improving energy efficiency and aesthetics. For example, the Jiangtian Data (Beichen) Cloud Data Center combines BIPV with a building-attached photovoltaic (BAPV) system, replacing traditional building materials with photovoltaic curtain walls, with an estimated annual power generation of 324,000 kW·h and carbon reduction of 323t. A data center in Hami utilizes abundant local sunshine, setting up rooftop and south facade photovoltaic systems to significantly reduce energy consumption, achieve energy self-sufficiency, improve building energy efficiency and aesthetics, and reduce carbon emissions [4]. These projects have promoted the sustainable development of green buildings, providing reference for other data centers and buildings, and achieving a win-win situation in economic and environmental benefits.

 

Figure 3 Hami data center photovoltaic building integrated (BIPV) scheme

 

2 Future Optimization Strategies and Energy Efficiency Improvement of Solar Photovoltaic Systems in Data Center Construction

 

Solar photovoltaic systems can provide clean, renewable energy for data centers, and can also significantly reduce operating costs and carbon emissions. To further optimize the energy efficiency of solar photovoltaic systems, the following points can be considered:

 

1) Integrate the energy storage modules of the photovoltaic system with the UPS energy storage modules of the data center to form a microgrid technology, with the goal of achieving independent operation of the data center in the future and reducing reliance on the external power grid. Through an intelligent control system, the photovoltaic system's power generation efficiency and the data center's power consumption needs are unified and managed in real-time, automatically adjusting the photovoltaic system's output and storing excess energy, optimizing energy scheduling, and reducing waste. For example, the data center can connect to photovoltaic power stations on surrounding rooftops or photovoltaic power generation modules in other areas of the park, and can also use the energy storage system to charge during off-peak hours and discharge during peak hours to perform peak shaving and valley filling operations, thereby reducing park electricity costs.

 

2) Optimize from the perspective of photovoltaic system design. Select high-efficiency photovoltaic components to improve power generation per unit area, and scientifically design the arrangement of photovoltaic components. Photovoltaic irradiation analysis simulation software can be used to analyze the solar radiation conditions at different times, optimize the angle and layout of photovoltaic components, and ensure that the photovoltaic components can capture solar energy to the greatest extent.

 

3) Consider integrating the photovoltaic system with the building facade using building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) design. Integrate the photovoltaic components with the building exterior wall during the design phase, replacing traditional building materials with photovoltaic components. This can reduce the material costs of the building facade system on one hand, and maximize the integration of photovoltaic components with the building style, reducing the impact of photovoltaic components on building aesthetics.

 

4) Develop effective photovoltaic component maintenance measures and regular maintenance measures. The efficiency of photovoltaic components decreases under high-temperature conditions. During maintenance management, heat dissipation measures such as ventilation and cooling systems can be adopted to keep the operating temperature of the components within a suitable range. In addition, dust and dirt on the surface of the photovoltaic system will affect its power generation efficiency. Regular and effective maintenance and cleaning measures can ensure the light transmittance and power generation efficiency of the photovoltaic components.

 

Challenges and Solutions for Data Center Photovoltaic Systems

 

The application of solar photovoltaic systems in data centers faces several challenges in practice. Firstly, the initial investment cost is high, especially for high-quality photovoltaic components and intelligent control systems. Government financial subsidies and tax incentives can be actively sought. Simultaneously, a detailed economic analysis showcasing the long-term economic benefits of solar photovoltaic systems, including electricity cost savings and carbon emission reductions, can attract investor and management support.

 

The electrical system design process for integrating large-scale solar photovoltaic systems with data centers is complex, requiring consideration of multiple factors such as building structure, lighting conditions, and electrical connections. Design software and tools can be used for detailed lighting analysis and system simulation to ensure the scientific and rational nature of the design. Standardized photovoltaic system design schemes can also be adopted to simplify the design process and reduce design costs.

 

The installation and maintenance of solar photovoltaic systems require professional technology and equipment, and the operation is relatively difficult. Professional training and technical support should be provided for maintenance personnel. Simultaneously, a remote monitoring system can be used to monitor the system's operating status in real-time, allowing for the timely identification and resolution of problems, reducing the frequency and cost of on-site maintenance. The performance and lifespan of photovoltaic components may be affected by harsh environments such as high and low temperatures, strong winds, and dust. Selecting photovoltaic component materials with strong weather resistance and long lifespans, and adopting heat dissipation measures and dust-proof and waterproof structural designs, can ensure stable operation of the components under various environmental conditions.

 

In addition, photovoltaic power generation systems are significantly affected by weather and time, potentially leading to an imbalance between electricity supply and demand. To address this issue, energy storage systems such as lithium-ion batteries can be combined to store excess electricity, smoothing output. An intelligent control system can monitor the photovoltaic system's power generation and the data center's electricity demand in real-time, automatically adjusting the system's output, optimizing energy scheduling, and ensuring the stability and reliability of the power supply.

 

Conclusion

 

With the advancement of the digital age, the construction and development of data centers have boomed, but energy consumption issues are becoming increasingly prominent. The construction of green data centers has become an inevitable trend, and solar photovoltaic systems, as an important method of utilizing renewable energy, have enormous potential and advantages. Solar photovoltaic systems not only have readily available energy but also gradually increasing efficiency with technological advancements.

 

In addition, solar photovoltaic systems generally have scalability, and have inherent advantages in data center buildings. However, the application of solar photovoltaic systems in data centers also faces challenges such as high initial investment costs, complex design, high installation and maintenance difficulty, and electricity supply and demand imbalance. These issues can be addressed through measures such as hiring professional design teams, selecting photovoltaic component materials with strong weather resistance, and combining energy storage systems.

 

Looking to the future, with continuous technological advancements and expanding application scenarios, solar photovoltaic systems will play an even more important role in the construction of future data centers. On the one hand, innovations in photovoltaic technology will drive improvements in the conversion efficiency of individual photovoltaic components, allowing for more solar energy to be effectively utilized per unit area. On the other hand, continuous optimization of data center design will promote the efficient integration of photovoltaic systems with building electrical power systems, further reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. Simultaneously, support from the government and all sectors of society will provide strong support for the development of data center photovoltaic systems. Therefore, we have reason to believe that in the future construction of data centers, solar photovoltaic systems will become an important force driving the development of green data centers, making positive contributions to achieving sustainable development goals. At the same time, we also look forward to the emergence of more innovative technologies and solutions to jointly promote the application of more advanced and efficient solar photovoltaic systems in the data center industry.