Heatwave risks drive Canberra Data Centres to fire up own power

Canberra Data Centres has helped Canberra avoid a power supply crisis during extremely hot weather conditions.

Electricity and natural gas provider ActewAGL become concerned about the possibility of a shortfall to the supply of energy, after the territory sweltered through two days of 40-plus-degree temperatures on 10 and 11 February.  

ActewAGL approached CDC to assist with the expected heatwave power demand increase.

CDC has capabilities to generate its own electricity and by switching to self-generated power during the peak usage times (between 4.30pm and 6.30pm), CDC reduced demand on the grid, freeing up between 5MW and 7MW for use by Canberra residences and businesses.

CDC chief executive Greg Boorer explained the data centre had the ability to operate in "island mode" by using onsite power generators and recycled water to transfer to fully independent off-grid operations if needed.

"Availability for our customers is our major priority, it was excellent that we were able to provide support to the ACT community and national energy network suppliers during this time too," he said.

It was estimated the combined response to the emergency avoided load shedding scenarios that would have affected between 3000 and 30,000 connections, or 5000 to 45,000 people.

Dorte Ekelund, director-general of the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate explained: "Load shedding occurs when the electricity supply to customers is interrupted because the electricity demand is higher than what the electricity system can supply at that particular time.

"If there is a disruption this could result in selected residential areas being switched off for a period of up to two hours on a scheduled basis."

ActewAGL general manager of energy networks Stephen Devlin thanked the community for the response to the supply emergency.

"The combined proactive effort of everyone across Canberra, particularly our large commercial customers, enabled ActewAGL to sufficiently reduce load across the ACT to meet the requirements of the Australian Energy Market Operator and do our bit to help stabilise the network," he said.

In May 2016, CDC had 96 percent of its shares acquired by Australian government pension fund provider Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation and New Zealand civil infrastructure investment company Infratil in an $800 million deal.

CDC's Boorer and long-term stable management team remain wth, and retained 4 percent of, the company.

In August, CDC announced a partner ecosystem to connect IT service providers with public sector buyers in Canberra.