Data centre · Cooling
Cooling in data centre: what the SRI measures
Cooling mirrors heating: control per room, prevent heating and cooling from fighting each other, store cold when electricity is cheap, and let the chiller follow actual demand.
In short
- 1This page shows how the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) assesses cooling in data centres.
- 2Cooling carries the heaviest weight here, because it determines almost the entire energy consumption of a data centre.
- 3Data centres above 290 kW of cooling or installation capacity often fall within the threshold for which the SRI is expected to become mandatory.
Weight of this domain for this building type
Which services count
| Service | Lowest level | Highest level | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooling emission control C-1a · A · 5 levels | No automatic control | Individual room control with communication and occupancy detection | highest level |
| Emission control for TABS (cooling mode) C-1b · 4 levels | No automatic control | Advanced central automatic control with intermittent operation and/or room temperature feedback control | – |
| Control of distribution network chilled water temperature (supply or return) C-1c · 3 levels | Constant temperature control | Demand based control | – |
| Control of distribution pumps in networks C-1d · 5 levels | No automatic control | Variable speed pump control (external demand signal) | – |
| Interlock: avoiding simultaneous heating and cooling in the same room C-1f · 3 levels | No interlock | Total interlock (control system ensures no simultaneous heating and cooling can take place) | – |
| Control of Thermal Energy Storage (TES) operation C-1g · 4 levels | Continuous storage operation | Cold storage capable of flexible control through grid signals (e.g. DSM) | – |
| Generator control for cooling C-2a · A · 4 levels | On/Off-control of cooling production | Variable control of cooling production capacity depending on the load AND external signals from grid | highest level |
| Sequencing of different cooling generators C-2b · 5 levels | Priorities only based on running times | Sequencing based on dynamic priority list, including external signals from grid | – |
| Report information regarding cooling system performance C-3 · A · 5 levels | None | Central or remote reporting of performance evaluation including forecasting and/or benchmarking; also including predictive management and fault detection | highest level |
| Flexibility and grid interaction C-4 · A · 5 levels | No automatic control | Optimized control of cooling system based on local predictions and grid signals (e.g. through model predictive control) | highest level |
Worked example
If everything in this domain is at level 0, the domain contributes nothing. At the highest level for all services, the indicative total score for this building type rises by about 31 percentage points (from 24 to 55 percent, with all other domains at level 1).
Why does cooling count so heavily for data centres?
A data centre uses energy differently from an office or residential building. Heating, hot water and the building envelope play hardly any role. Cooling and electricity make up almost all consumption.
In the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) methodology, each domain receives a weighting factor for each building type. For data centres, the cooling domain carries the full weight: three out of three.
This means the score for cooling installations in this building type directly affects the overall SRI score. Other domains, such as heating, have little to no influence here.
Which smart-ready services are assessed?
Within the cooling domain (C), the SRI assesses multiple smart-ready services. Each service receives a functionality level, from 0 (no automatic control) to higher levels with advanced control.
Examples include control of cooling output per room, control of distribution pumps, and interlock: a function that prevents heating and cooling in the same room from working against each other.
- Control of chilling equipment and the sequence in which multiple units are deployed
- Cold storage, for example thermal energy storage (TES), timed to periods of lower electricity prices
- Reporting of cooling system performance indicators, from live measurements to predictive maintenance
- Flexibility and interaction with the electricity grid, where the cooling system can respond to external signals
What does flexibility mean in practice here?
Data centres often already have batteries and backup power systems for continuity. These same installations can also serve as a flexibility resource for the electricity grid.
The highest functionality levels within the cooling domain reward systems that combine cooling with grid signals, for example by storing cold when electricity is cheap. This aligns with the possibility of delivering waste heat from data centres to the surrounding area.
When does the SRI become relevant for a data centre?
The SRI is a voluntary tool. Building owners can already request an assessment, independent of any obligation.
Data centres often exceed the threshold of 290 kW of installation capacity. For non-residential buildings above that threshold, the European Commission must adopt a delegated act by 30 June 2027 making the SRI mandatory.
What this means for you
- Owner
- Have the cooling installation of your data centre assessed for the functionality levels present, as this domain determines almost the entire SRI score for this building type. Investment in advanced control, cold storage and grid connection delivers both a higher score and direct energy cost savings.
- Tenant
- As a user of a data centre, you will notice little from the SRI itself, but you will notice the consequences: a well-controlled cooling system means more stable temperatures and less risk of failures. A higher degree of automation can also indicate lower energy costs passed on to you.
- Advisor
- Pay extra attention to services within the cooling domain when conducting the assessment, as these carry the full weight for this building type. Specifically check for the presence of interlock, thermal energy storage and grid connection, as these functions make the difference between lower and higher classes.
Next step
Want to know where your building stands?