Utilities & Data Centers 2022

February 1-2, 2022 | , and Online ::

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“Nicely done. I wish we could have had an applause function …. Great speakers and topics.” – Distribution System Planning Manager, AEP

“This was one of the best events I have attended from an educational and networking perspective!” – Economic Development Consultant, Nebraska Public Power District

“This conference was well designed to cover a variety of topics from credible speakers. Well done!” – Manager, EcoDev, Great River Energy

Data centers are commercial & industrial (C&I) energy customers in a class of their own. Driven by corporate ESG goals (Environmental, social and governance), these highly sophisticated large load facilities demand lots of clean energy, energy efficiency and system resiliency. As we break into the digital age and tech giants continue hyper scaling, this segment of the energy market is poised for tremendous growth.

Attracting data centers to your region requires coordination between the utility and local government. Site selection is a competitive process and only utilities who fully understand the needs of data centers can attract and retain new customers. The 10th Annual Utilities & Data Centers 2022 Conference is the exchange between energy and the data center. The flagship conference returns, bringing together industry leading co-locators, enterprise users, a national laboratory, an international authority, and many more for a single, virtual place to network and collaborate.

Learning Outcomes

This conference will provide attendees an opportunity to:

• Assess what utilities need to do to attract, retain and manage data center customers
• Identify infrastructure and energy needs of data centers
• Determine the ROI and challenges of hyper scaling
• Discuss different regional rate structures and utility partnerships
• Evaluate energy efficient data center designs and operational technologies
• Hear more case studies from co-locators on new technology and latest industry trends
• Participate in discussions around 5G, AI, Machine Learning, cloud transition, & the Edge
• Create partnerships with co-locators, enterprise users, and solutions providers

Tuesday, February 1, 2022 : Central Time

 

9:00 – 9:45 a.m. :: Keynote Address: The Data Center Industry’s State of Affairs

This keynote will provide key insight into the current state of affairs in the cloud infrastructure and the data center industry. Topics will include important developments and controversial topics such as sustainability, availability, security, as well as the effects of the modern-era computing such as cloud computing, edge, and serverless computing.

Mehdi Paryavi, DCA®, Chairman & CEO, International Data Center Authority (IDCA) 

9:45 – 10:30 a.m. :: Impacts of a Data Center Hub on Community Development

Major firms like Google, AWS, and Facebook have all announced development in the Columbus suburb of New Albany. As corporations grow their sustainability and capacity goals, creating a complimentary ecosystem of businesses has helped drive the growth a uniquely flourishing data center community. Hear the story of growth, partnership, and investment on this session from leaders from companies that made it all possible.

Amber Tillman, Community Development Manager, Facebook

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. :: Morning Break

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. :: Infrastructure Efficiency, Reliability, and Scaling

As the drive for data center sustainability enters a new and more urgent phase, what are the next frontiers beyond efficiency and renewable energy sourcing? Here is a look at the technologies, strategies and best practices we are watching at the Data Center Frontier – from industry’s pioneering leaders. A few of the featured topics:

• Site selection: “what attracts data centers”
• Developing sustainable partnerships
• Investing into renewable generation
• Energy efficient design projects including natural gas gen, power autonomy, and dedicated substations
• Fiber infrastructure updates
• Practical technology for deployment overview

Travis Wright, VP, Energy & Sustainability, QTS Data Centers

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. :: Lunch Break

1:00 – 1:45 p.m. :: Case Study: Earning Energy Savings on Data Center Efficiency Using ISO 50001 and 14001

Energy management using the global ISO 50001 energy management system builds upon other well-known ISO management systems such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.   Use of ISO 50001 in the manufacturing facilities has demonstrated accelerated energy savings as opposed to more traditional energy project implementation approaches; 4-5% per year savings versus 1-2.5% per year savings.  ISO 50001 has offered many benefits, including, for example, improving PUE at some sites as much as 20%, and contributing to the formal tracking and audit of renewable energy as they maintain being powered by 100% green power. The ISO 50001 standard will be described along with some useful free tools from the U.S. Department of Energy. 

Jim Henry, Manager, Global Compliance, Iron Mountain Data Centers

1:45 – 2:30 p.m. :: Case Study: Digitalization of Electrical Switchgear Maintenance

There is a large amount of electrical distribution equipment in data centers that are among the most reliable assets in the environment, but still need maintaining. Traditional methods that rely on intrusive tests and inspections are costly, infrequent, and may increase operational or safety risk. Digitalization of common maintenance tasks offers the promise of higher reliability though continuous monitoring and fewer intrusive activities. This presentation looks at some means to achieve along with an analysis of cost and ROI.

Bob Woolley, Sr. VP of Operations, NTT Global Data Centers

2:30 – 2:45 p.m. :: Afternoon Break

2:45 – 3:30 p.m. :: Liquid Cooling Techniques to Future Proof Data Centers and Optimize Efficiency 

This session will cover:

• Liquid cooling techniques and requirements
  • In-rack liquid cooling
  • Rear-door heat exchangers
  • Cold plate cooling
  • Liquid immersion
• Relative performance and performance drivers
• Issues, challenges, and the future
  • Wet and dry “free” cooling
  • Taking advantage of local heat sinks
  • Percent liquid cooled and fanless operation
  • Waste heat reuse
  • Open specifications
• Future proofing – LBNL case study
  • Resources

Dale Sartor, Staff Engineer, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

3:30 – 4:45 p.m. :: Distributed Generation for the Data Center – Battery Storage, and Microgrids

Energy technologies continue to be an important factor in cost saving, reliability, and energy efficiency. Microgrids, battery storage, and distributed renewable energy investments allow data centers to create, store, and control power with unprecedented functionality – but are these technologies practical or cost effective yet? This panel will share a holistic perspective on the issue of DER integration for the data center. Hear from an implementer, electric design specialist, and data center VP of Engineering on just how far we’ve come, and what’s being done today.

Todd Gale, VP of Engineering, Flexential

Wednesday, February 2, 2022 : Central Time

 

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. :: Where Are We Going At The Edge – A Look Ahead

Even before COVID 19, we were talking about The Edge.  Edge Computing, Edge Applications, Edge as a Service, the Edge Data Center, Cloud Edge.  And on and on.  And certainly, The Edge has lived up to it’s potential, especially as we fight a host of disruptors resulting from the global pandemic.

But where do we go from here?  And what is next at The Edge?

This presentation will not look into some mythical crystal ball.  We will not present specific predictions for the future Edge.  Or introduce another new term for what The Edge can do.  Rather, current trends and their impact on The Edge will be reviewed.  And critically – a sense of what we should be looking for from The Edge as we move from this global megatrend on to the next one.

Discussion points will include:

• Discuss new technology and application disruptors at The Edge
• Where does The Edge fit in to the new IT landscape
• Challenges created by Edge solutions – social, economic, operational
• What’s next (maybe) at The Edge

Herb Villa, Systems Consultant – Data Center Solutions, Rittal North America LLC

10:00 – 10:30 a.m. :: The Cloud and How Innovation is Shaping Our Industry

This presentation will share on emerging technologies that are driving the modern data center. From hyper scale to cloud, robotics, automation, and data center design, this talk will address how to develop and integrate digital solutions that work. Bill will also talk about the growing Switch network and its advanced technology use cases.

Bill Kleyman, Executive Vice President of Digital Solutions, Switch

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. :: Morning Break

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. :: The Great Repatriation: The New Balance Between Cloud and Data Center

We’re firmly in the digital era. But cloud outages and cloud questions continue to grow. It’s a big reason why we’re seeing a new balance emerging between the cloud and the data center. But how much repatriation is really happening? What is the hyperscale shift? Most of all, how can leaders in the data center and utility space prepare for even more growth in the data center space?

 This session will cover:

• The latest cloud re-balancing trends and research
• It’s no longer a “cloud-first” mentality. Why is this changing?
• The shrinking of the enterprise data center, and why this is happening
• A look to the future: preparing for repatriation and looking at the cloud with new KPIs.

Bill Kleyman, Executive Vice President of Digital Solutions, Switch

12:00 p.m. :: Conference Adjourns

• Todd Gale, VP of Engineering, Flexential 

• Jim Henry, Manager, Global Compliance, Iron Mountain Data Centers

• Bill Kleyman, Executive Vice President of Digital Solutions, Switch

• Mehdi Paryavi, DCA®, Chairman & CEO, International Data Center Authority (IDCA) 

• Dale Sartor, Staff Engineer, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

• Amber Tillman, Community Development Manager, Facebook

• Herb Villa, Systems Consultant – Data Center Solutions, Rittal North America LLC

• Bob Woolley, Sr. VP of Operations, NTT Global Data Centers

• Travis Wright, VP, Energy & Sustainability, QTS Data Centers

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

• IMPORTANT NOTE: After November 30 you will not be able to join a Teams meeting using Internet Explorer 11. Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the Teams app if possible. You may also use the Edge browser or Chrome.
• You will receive a meeting invitation will include a link to join the meeting.
• Separate meeting invitations will be sent for the morning and afternoon sessions of the course.
  • You will need to join the appropriate meeting at the appropriate time.
• If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
• The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ

If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all attendees for 7 days after the event

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Utilities & Data Centers 2022

February 1-2, 2022 | Online

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before December 31, 2021 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

Credits

EUCI has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).  In obtaining this accreditation, EUCI has demonstrated that it  complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard which is recognized internationally as a standard of good practice. As a result of their Authorized Provider status, EUCI is authorized to offer IACET CEUs for its programs that qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standard.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 0.9 CEUs for this conference.

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must sign in/out each day and be in attendance for the entirety of the conference to be eligible for continuing education credit.

Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

Course CPE Credits: 10.5
There is no prerequisite for this event.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None

EUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org

 

Instructional Methods

PowerPoint presentations, panel discussions and case studies will be used for this conference.

Who Should Attend

• Utilities
• Energy providers
• Energy management/Solutions providers
• Local government economic development reps
• Enterprise users
• Data Centers, Co-Locaters