Switchgear: An Essential Component in Data Centre's Electrical Distribution System

The switchgear is a crucial component of the modern digital infrastructure, with significant implications for the efficient functioning of data centres worldwide.

Market Size, Trends and Growth

Globally, the data centre industry is expected to continue its rapid expansion. According to JLL, the global data centre capacity will nearly double from 10.1 zettabytes (1 ZB = 1 billion TB) in 2023 to 21.0 zettabytes in 2027, with a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.5%. The global transfer switches and switchgears in data centres market size was valued at USD 3,208.6 million in 2023. The market is projected to grow from USD 3,504.2 million in 2024 to USD 7,447.4 million by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 9.9% during the forecast period.

The growth of the data centre switchgear market can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the rapid expansion of data centres globally, driven by the increasing demand for cloud computing, big data analytics, and digital services, is creating a significant need for reliable and resilient power infrastructure. As businesses continue to rely more on digital solutions to stay competitive, the volume of data being generated and processed is skyrocketing, necessitating the expansion and upgrading of data centre facilities. Secondly, the growing complexity of data centre operations, with the integration of various IT workloads such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and high-performance computing (HPC), is increasing the power requirements and making them more intricate. This demands advanced switchgear solutions that can handle varying loads, offer redundancy, and support flexible power distribution strategies.

Thirdly, the data centres need to operate continuously to avoid disruptions to businesses and services. Transfer switches, such as static transfer switches, play a critical role in providing rapid and seamless transfer of electrical loads between power sources without interruption, ensuring data centre uptime. Fourthly, the expansion and diversification of data centre services have led to more complex power requirements. Medium voltage power control systems, for example, are in higher demand due to their ability to offer higher power control and distribution efficiency, which is essential for managing large-scale data centre operations. The last, with data centres being major consumers of electricity, there is a growing focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. Modern switchgear solutions are designed to enhance power distribution efficiency, reduce energy losses, and support the integration of renewable energy sources, aligning with the industry's trend towards greener operations.

Technology Advancements in Data Centre Switchgear

Higher port densities and throughput

Increased port counts: Data centre switches are now being designed with significantly higher port densities. This allows for more servers and storage devices to be connected to a single switch, reducing the need for additional switches and saving valuable rack space.

Faster data transfer rates: To meet the demands of bandwidth-hungry applications such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and high-definition video streaming, the latest switches support much higher data transfer rates. Ports supporting 10 gigabits per second were standard until recently, but now 25, 40, and 100 gigabit ports are common, and some new switches even have 400 gigabit ports with the ability to handle data throughput of several terabits per second.

Advanced switching and routing

Intelligent traffic management: : Modern data centre switches are equipped with advanced features for intelligent traffic management. They can support dividing networks between multiple users and connecting virtual networks that span across physical devices, ensuring that traffic flows optimally between computing resources. This is crucial for efficient data centre operations, especially in multi-tenant environments.

Software defined networking (SDN) and OpenFlow support: SDN and OpenFlow have become integral to data centre networking. Switches that support these technologies allow for greater network flexibility and automation. Network administrators can use SDN controllers to centrally manage and configure the network, enabling features such as load balancing, low latency traffic handling, and packet brokering within the switch fabric. This simplifies network management and improves overall network performance.

Programmable switch ASICs: The ability to program switch application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) is another significant advancement. This allows networks to quickly adopt new protocols and optimize how workloads use computing power and network traffic. Vendors are also offering operating systems like SONiC that make switches more flexible and programmable, enabling data centre operators to customize the switch functionality to meet their specific requirements.

Higher energy efficiency

Power optimised circuit boards: Switch manufacturers are focusing on using better circuit board designs and components to reduce power consumption. New switch circuit boards are optimized to use less energy in different workloads, contributing to overall energy savings in the data centre.

Dynamic power scaling: Some advanced switches can individually control power to each port or scale power dynamically based on usage. This means that ports that are not actively transmitting data can be powered down or operate at a lower power level, further reducing energy consumption without sacrificing performance. As a result, the latest switches with 100 gigabit or multiple 400-gigabit ports can now operate at a power usage effectiveness (PUE) level of one or below, indicating highly efficient power usage.

Security and hardware verification

Hardware verification and resilience: To address concerns related to misconfiguration, firmware issues, and hardware flaws, especially in multi-tenant infrastructures, rigorous hardware verification processes are being implemented. This ensures the reliability and integrity of the switchgear, reducing the risk of network failures or security vulnerabilities caused by hardware-related problems.

Enhanced security features: With the increasing importance of data centre security, switch vendors are strengthening security practices and verification across their platforms. Features such as encrypted management, access control lists (ACLs), sFlow/NetFlow monitoring, and integration with centralized security controllers are being incorporated to improve visibility and control over network traffic. These security measures help protect against unauthorized access, data breaches, and other cyber threats.

Other advancements

Silicon photonics and energy-efficient switching: The development of silicon photonics technology is showing promise for data centre switchgear. For example, a recent innovation involves the use of a silicon-based non-volatile switch design that uses phase-change material and graphite heater to control light. This technology has the potential to significantly reduce the energy consumption of data centres by providing more efficient optical communication between servers.

Liquid cooled power solutions: As data centres face increasing challenges related to power density and heat dissipation, liquid-cooled power solutions are emerging. Companies like Flextronics are developing liquid-cooled racks, power supplies, and intermediate bus converter modules for data centres, which can help improve the reliability and efficiency of power delivery while reducing the impact of heat on equipment performance.

Operation and Maintenance

In the dynamic world of data centres, the proper operation management of switchgear and associated technologies is of utmost importance, as well as the strategies and considerations when replacing and retrofitting them upon failure or at the end of their service lives.

Modification: Manufacturers often design data centre switchgear and technologies with a certain level of flexibility to accommodate evolving needs. Modifications can be made to enhance performance, adapt to new network architectures, or meet specific power and connectivity requirements.

Replacement: When switchgear fails or reaches the end of its service life, replacement becomes inevitable. The replacement process begins with a comprehensive assessment of the current data centre infrastructure and requirements. This includes evaluating the power capacity, network topology, and future growth projections. Selecting the right replacement switchgear from manufacturers involves considering factors such as port speed, port density, power efficiency, and compatibility with existing systems.

Retrofitting: Retrofitting offers an alternative to complete replacement, especially when the existing switchgear has some salvageable components or when budget constraints are a concern. Retrofitting can involve upgrading components such as power supplies, cooling systems, or control modules to improve performance and extend the life of the switchgear. For example, replacing an older, less efficient power supply with a modern, energy-efficient one can reduce power consumption and heat generation.

Conclusion

We explore the market size, growth trends, and demand of data centre switchgears in electrical distribution system, including the proper operation management and maintenance of switchgear and key data centre switchgear technologies. The modification, replacement, and retrofitting, is essential for the efficient and reliable operation of data centres. By carefully considering the various factors, challenges, and options available, data centre operators can make informed decisions that balance performance, cost, and downtime, ensuring that their data centres remain competitive and capable of meeting the ever-increasing demands of the digital age.

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