Direct Current (DC) electric power is becoming increasingly popular in many countries as an alternative to Alternating Current (AC) as it offers energy efficiency, improved power quality and reliability, and alignment with renewable and clean energy development. In many situations, DC power is beginning to evolve towards replacing AC as a standard for electricity delivery infrastructure.
What is the difference between AC and DC?
DC is a linear and constant voltage supply circuit. Renewable energy sources such as solar panels, wind energy and hydro energy produce DC energy.
AC on the hand, periodically reverses. AC power is received from utility providers and electrical grids.
Benefits of a DC powered micro data centre
At Zella DC we now offer fully DC powered micro data centres (in addition to the usual AC powered ones). The benefits of these are:
Efficiency
DC power is significantly more efficient than AC power. This means reduced power bills of course, but also reduced carbon footprint to help you reach your net-zero carbon emissions target.
Sustainability
DC power is compatible with renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind, second-generation clean biomass, and innovative, low-cost fuel cell designs. This means integration with alternative sources of energy will be greatly streamlined.
Compatibility
Electronic equipment (like phones, laptops, TVs, etc.), as well as telco equipment, only operate on DC power.
Boundaryless deployment
DC power is already in use in certain countries, in rural and remote areas, where the national (AC) power grid does not reach – this means you can install your micro data centre even in locations with very limited infrastructure.
Future applications
Electric vehicles use DC (battery) power and their batteries can be charged using DC power in a small fraction of the time needed for charging using AC power. In Europe, smart villages that use DC power are being designed, and electric vehicles are envisaged as part of the storage system for renewable power.
A versatile solution
DC powered micro data centres are a versatile solution that will suit many industries like telecommunications, mining, farming, defence and broadcasting. Zella Outback, our outdoor version of the Zella Pro, is particularly suited to environments like smart mines, smart farms and 5G tower sites.
Get in touch if you’d like to find out more about the benefits of a DC powered micro data centre in relation to your location and industry.
