Given the momentum of concepts such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) management, there is no room for delaying the transition towards a sustainable society. In our daily lives, the adoption of renewable energy and the encouragement of recycling practices are becoming more widespread. The same is true in the world of digital transformation, or DX. In May 2024, NEC inaugurated its latest environmentally sustainable data centers in Kanagawa and Kobe, Japan. Here, we take a look behind the scenes at NEC's green data centers, which have been created in line with NEC's Purpose of "realizing a sustainable society where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential."

Safety and security: a major premise for rapidly expanding data centers

So, what exactly is a data center?

"A data center is a sturdy building, something like a 'box' that contains important data from customers and NEC." This is according to Mr. Masahiro Ito, who has been involved in NEC's data center business for more than 10 years. As a place that safeguards vital assets known as "data," a data center is equipped with backup generators for emergencies and has rigorous security measures in place. Continuous safe operation is a fundamental premise and a primary feature that drives data center design. In a broad sense, the "cloud" on the Internet is also a data center.

Data centers have become a vital component for the DX of society, as demand for them grows with the widespread use of the Internet and the rapid proliferation of generative AI. NEC has been focusing on its data center business as well, with the NEC Inzai Data Center drawing attention as the only location in Japan to offer connectivity to three major public clouds (Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute, AWS Direct Connect, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Fast Connect). NEC is also strengthening its support for generative AI, with its data centers serving as an integral base for DX business, including BluStellar—the new value creation model NEC unveiled in May of this year.

The increasing demand for data centers underscores the importance of addressing decarbonization as another crucial issue. With NEC focusing on environmental management, Ito explained that "Given the perception of data centers as massive consumers of electricity, we felt a strong sense of responsibility to pursue green initiatives."

NEC is uniquely equipped to strike a balance with sustainability

Let's take a closer look at mechanisms for balancing "green" and "data center" issues, which are seemingly contradictory at first glance.

Data centers consume a great deal of power. For example, the amount of power consumed by the newly opened NEC Kanagawa Data Center Phase 2 Building is equivalent to that of up to approximately 20,000 average households.

One of the key points in addressing this power consumption problem is to efficiently cool and dissipate the heat generated during electricity consumption. An example is through the use of free cooling technology. Using cold air from outside, this system produces cold water to reduce temperatures at the data center during the cold months from October through May. NEC has implemented a mechanism that can achieve cooling using water at around 20°C (68°F), which may seem unusual to call "cold water," to lower energy consumption. The system also performs precise calculations and repeated simulations of the flow of the cold air for cooling and the warm dissipated air in order to further enhance efficiency.

Another key point is using 100% renewable energy. All the Phase 2 Building's energy needs are covered by renewable energy, including self-generated electricity from solar panels and natural energy sourced from electricity providers.

The contributions of NEC's green data centers to ESG management extends beyond NEC as an organization to include its business partners as well; that is, through the issuance of a "non-fossil certificate" to validate the adoption of renewable energy in electricity usage. Moreover, NEC is also making efforts to conserve energy in facility management by using LED lighting.

NEC started shifting to green data centers in Nagoya in FY2023. Ito expressed his enthusiasm saying that in addition to Kanagawa and Kobe, "We want to continue to increase the number of green data centers in the future."

Continuing to evolve in line with the times and our customers' needs

At the heart of NEC's DX business, BluStellar, is the evolution into a green data center that emphasizes safety, security and leverages NEC's innovative technologies. Building on the trust and technology NEC has cultivated thus far, the green data center continues to evolve. The company's ability to update and keep up with the DX era, including responding to next-generation technologies like generative AI, is another strength of NEC.

"Customization on the data center side is a must to meet the demands of the times," said Ito. Only a month after the inauguration of the latest data center, Ito and his team have already initiated plans for the next phase, by exploring the implementation of a new cooling system to facilitate the seamless integration of high-performance GPU servers that generate significant heat.

Ito concluded by saying, "We want to earn as many customer testimonials as possible, with each expressing satisfaction in having entrusted their assets (data) to NEC. Going forward, we will remain focused on working diligently and sincerely. NEC's data centers will continue to evolve to usher in a DX era that brings new value to society."

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