Finning UK & Ireland, the world’s largest dealer of Cat^® equipment and power solutions, will address sustainability challenges at the upcoming DataCentres Ireland event, leading discussions on sustainable power solutions for the data centre industry. The event will take place on November 20-21 at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) in Dublin, Ireland.

Graham Scandrett, Electric Power Head of Projects Sales at Finning UK & Ireland, will participate in a panel discussion titled ‘Onsite standby generation – how to be sustainable’ to explore how renewable energy sources can be integrated as efficiently and pragmatically as possible. With over two decades of experience in the electric power industry, Scandrett is set to bring valuable insights to the conversation.

At the event, Finning will be on hand to discuss its expertise in power solutions at stand 522, as well as discuss the latest Cat power generation technologies designed to meet the evolving needs of data centres. These include the Cat 3516E high transient standby generator set (genset), delivering 2.8MW from a compact footprint, and the Cat G3520K genset which offers flexible fuel options including natural gas and biogas.

The panel discussion will explore the complexities of power generation for data centres, addressing key industry challenges such as the integration of renewable energy sources, balancing energy security with sustainability objectives and meeting stringent emissions regulations while maintaining operational efficiency.

“Data centres are currently balancing their energy requirements with the necessity for sustainable and reliable power solutions,” said Scandrett. “If you want to reduce carbon intensity, data centres need an energy mix including sustainable energy which, by virtue, is not dispatchable. This is where we can step in to provide sustainable solutions and support.”

Scandrett added: “We know the national grid consists of an energy mix with objectives to further increase the percentage of that mix from renewable sources. At the same time, consumers are requesting more and larger grid connections to keep pace with sustainability and growth plans. When it comes to grid connections, there are many factors involved. In an environment where energy from renewables is not a constant of time, a user’s ability to take a flexible grid connection to reduce demand on the grid at peak times can be a key factor.

“At Finning, we are right in the middle of addressing industry complexities like these. For example, if you have a flexible connection and requested to come offline, we can work with clients to offer on-site energy – from a range of fuel sources including liquid fuel gensets – which can operate on lower carbon intense HVO, as well as hydrogen-ready gas gensets.

“Liquid fuel in particular is an ideal fuel because – under and within the footprint of a generator enclosure –you’ve got a fuel tank providing roughly 48 hours of fuel, meaning you’ve got this amount of energy security on site,” Scandrett explained. “Liquid fuels – by virtue of their chemical makeup – have a high energy density. As such, compared to other fuel types, 48 hours of on-site storage is practical, which in my opinion means that liquid fuels will be part of the energy mix for at least the near to medium term. I’ll be talking about solutions like liquid fuel as part of my panel discussion and can’t wait to help our customers and attendees alike navigate some of the challenges faced by data centres today.”

Attendees are invited to visit the Finning stand 522 and attend the panel discussion featuring Graham Scandrett to learn more about achieving sustainable power solutions in the data centre industry. The session will be on November 21 at 11:40 a.m.

Visitors to the Finning stand can expect to engage with experts on topics such as strategies for integrating renewable energy with reliable backup power, the role of sustainable fuels in data centre power generation, and the latest solutions in power system efficiency and emissions reduction.

For more information about DataCentres Ireland, please visit: www.datacentres-ireland.com

To learn more about Finning UK & Ireland, please visit: www.finning.com

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