During disruptions to National Grid supplies, Data Centres rely on back-up generators to ensure continuity of electrical power and the critical data processing and storage services they provide to their clients. These back-up generators are often fuelled by diesel or hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and therefore emit combustion emissions into the local environment.

Assessment of the air quality impacts associated with the operation of these generators is therefore required for planning and/or environmental permitting purposes.

The Air Quality Impacts of Data Centres

Due to the reliability of the National Grid and minimal generator testing and maintenance requirements, emissions to air from back-up generators are usually short-lived (i.e. generator run times of a matter of hours). However, adverse air quality impacts can potentially occur, especially when numerous generators operate concurrently and where there are sensitive land uses nearby, such as residential housing, schools and protected ecological sites.

Cumulative air quality impacts are also possible, particularly as many Data Centre sites are often co-located in the same geographical areas.

The key air quality issues associated with the operation of Data Centre back-up generators, are:

• Emissions to air leading to increased concentrations of regulated pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter, and the subsequent potential for impacts on the health of people living and working in the local area.
• Emissions to air leading to the potential for impacts on the health and function of protected ecological sites, through increased pollutant concentrations or acid and nutrient deposition.

Air Quality Assessments for Data Centres

The Phlorum Air Quality Team has delivered air quality assessment services for numerous Data Centre projects in the UK. We work with our clients to understand the likely operational profiles of the back-up generators on their sites and develop sensible assessment scenarios that fully consider the likely air quality effects of emergency and planned generator use.

Our key Data Centre services are:

• Detailed air dispersion modelling of back-up generator emissions using state of the art and regulatory-approved software.
• Liaison with clients, regulators and generator suppliers to obtain necessary emissions and other input data for modelling and to agree assessment methodologies and modelling scenarios.
• Quantification of air quality impacts at human and ecological receptors and the determination of likely significant air quality effects.
• Full assessment and reporting for planning (including EIA) and environmental permitting.
• Post-planning/permitting support, including sensitivity testing and the provision of technical responses to regulators to enable the discharge of air quality conditions.

Why Choose Phlorum’s Data Centre Air Quality Assessment Services?

Phlorum’s air quality consultants are highly experienced in all aspects of Data Centre modelling and assessment, and have worked for a number of operators to enable them to obtain necessary planning or environmental permitting approvals to successfully operate back-up generators without regulatory restrictions on day-to-day operations.