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 emit combustion emissions into the local environment.

Specialist data centre air quality monitoring and assessments measure and predict the impacts associated with the operation of these generators. Such assessments are required for planning and/or environmental permitting purposes

The Air Quality Impacts of Data Centres

Due to the National Grid’s high reliability and the fact that generators are typically only run to ensure they are maintained properly to run during emergencies, emissions to air from back-up generators are infrequent and short-lived (i.e., generators are typically tested once a month, with run times of an hour or less).

However, adverse air quality impacts can occur, especially when numerous generators operate concurrently and where sensitive land uses, such as residential housing, schools, and protected ecological sites, are nearby.

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 Monitoring & Assessments for Data Centres

Phlorum’s air quality consultants have delivered air quality assessment services for numerous Data Centre projects in the UK. Our Data Centre air quality consultants 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 Monitoring & Assessment Services?

Phlorum’s air quality consultants are highly experienced in all aspects of Data Centre monitoring, modelling and assessment services 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.