Grundfos Pumps Power Innovative Cooling and Water Management at Digital Realty's Cloud House
Grundfos pumps are at the heart of an innovative cooling system that is enabling Digital Realty to use river water to cool massive banks of computers in its new data center. This advanced system not only saves energy and improves sustainability but also minimizes water waste and reduces operational costs for both the company and its global customer base.
Winner of the 2023 Green Data Centre of the Year Award, Digital Realty’s Cloud House data center is located in London Docklands. It is one of the most internet-connected areas in the United Kingdom, and it represents a significant leap forward in environmental performance. It cordinates with the company’s mission to reduce its carbon footprint, optimize energy usage, and preserve natural resources. These efforts are in line with the 2030 Carbon Neutral target and adhere to the European Code of Conduct for Energy Efficiency in Data Centers.
As part of its global infrastructure, Digital Realty operates PlatformDIGITAL®, a robust data center platform spanning over 300 facilities across more than 50 metropolitan areas in 25 countries. Clients who use this network see less environmental impact, increased operational efficiency, and improved resilience.
Pioneering Design Meets Practical Efficiency
Cloud House is unique because of its innovative cooling system. It is made to avoid traditional air conditioning, which uses a lot of energy. Rather, cooled water from the adjacent Millwall Inner Dock is used in the facility. This water is circulated through a high-purity water system involving advanced water treatment components that ensure quality and performance before the water enters the cooling loop.
The dock water passes through a heat exchanger, which cools the internal air. This air is then distributed under raised floors and through ceiling grilles, maintaining an optimal temperature for the server racks. The system's water dependence is also in line with the principles of wastewater treatment plant operations, which prioritize reuse, low discharge, and accordance to stringent environmental regulations.
However, the engineers at Deerns faced difficulties in reaching this degree of efficiency. They needed a water treatment solution that could lift and circulate large volumes of dock water efficiently while ensuring the returning water never exceeded 27°C, a crucial environmental requirement. The cooling system also needed to adapt to real-time load fluctuations, using water intelligently and ensuring that sensitive digital infrastructure remained at optimal operating temperatures.
This design shows a smooth integration of smart building automation with industrial wastewater treatment concepts, demonstrating that sustainability and performance can coexist.
The Grundfos Advantage
Having collaborated with Grundfos on several previous high-efficiency systems, Deerns once again turned to the world-renowned pump manufacturer to deliver a precise and reliable solution. After detailed planning, Grundfos proposed a high-performance pumping setup centered around the Grundfos NBG 150-125-315/336, a robust, close-coupled, end-suction, single-stage submersible pump powered by a high-efficiency IE3 motor and equipped with a variable speed drive.
This pump, made from corrosion-resistant stainless steel, is specially for challenging environments like Millwall Dock’s brackish water. With the ability to lift up to 50 liters per second, it comfortably exceeds the demands of the new data center while maintaining consistent efficiency even under full load conditions. These characteristics are comparable to the demands placed on systems within membrane bioreactor applications, where stable flow, pressure, and fluid quality are crucial.
Before installation, Grundfos’ technical team evaluated the dock’s water quality and performed comprehensive flow and temperature differential calculations. They demonstrated that the NBG pump could maintain a differential of no more than 7.5°C between inflow and outflow, a vital measure to meet environmental regulatory requirements.
In collaboration with Gratte Brothers, a respected London-based installer and building services specialist, Grundfos coordinated precise delivery of both the main submersible pumps and secondary pumps involved in chilled water distribution. This meticulous project management ensured that all pumps met installation milestones on time, an important factor in complex data center infrastructure builds.
Performance, Sustainability, and Smart Integration
Grundfos pumps are now central to the water treatment plant components at Cloud House, enabling Digital Realty to make full use of the dock water in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible way. Compared to conventional cooling systems, this solution is up to 20 times more energy-efficient, contributing substantially toward Digital Realty’s goal of reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 68% and achieving full climate neutrality by 2030.
Additionally, the method almost completely eliminates waste and drastically cuts down on water use, which is in line with the objectives of a zero-liquid discharge water treatment strategy. Digital Realty lowers operating costs and guarantees long-term sustainability by carefully regulating and recirculating every drop. This strategy is similar to that used in wastewater treatment plant components, where efficiency and conservation are crucial.
Cloud House has received a BREEAM certification for its high-performance systems. Being a leader in ecologically friendly infrastructure is cemented by its excellent sustainability rating. The integration of water treatment plant consultants like Deerns and highly specialized vendors like Grundfos has been critical to achieving this standard.
Setting a Global Example
Digital Realty’s commitment to sustainable innovation is embodied in its Cloud House data center. The facility shows how smart ideas can combine strong engineering, good design, and care for the environment. It’s more than just a technological advancement. It reflects a company’s responsibility in today’s eco-aware world.
By adopting advanced water treatment components, leveraging membrane bio reactor-level efficiencies, and building with the precision of water treatment plant consultants, the project redefines what's possible in modern data center design. This approach can lead to more data centers using a mix of smart cooling systems and wastewater treatment methods to build setups that are cleaner, stronger, and better for the environment.
Through partnerships with experts like Grundfos and Gratte Brothers, Digital Realty has not only pushed the boundaries of performance and reliability but also proven that environmental responsibility and global scalability can go hand in hand. As the demand for data increases, Cloud House provides a blueprint for future-ready, eco-conscious infrastructure that prioritizes both people and the planet, delivering value for businesses while protecting natural resources for generations to come.
