Human waste to power data centre

Adland luvvies have long derided direct mail as “shit that folds” but it seems the data industry could soon have the last laugh after plans were revealed to launch the UK’s first data centre powered by human waste.
United Utilities is investing £10m in the complex, based at its Davyhulme plant in Greater Manchester, which already generates enough bio-gas to power the equivalent of 9,000 homes.
According to the latest UK figures, in 2012, data centre power requirement was 2.85 gigawatts and is growing at more than 20% a year; a gigawatt is the amount of energy it takes to power about a million homes.
United bosses came up with the data centre plan after realising there will be excess capacity to sustain the facility, due to be up and running by October 2014.
William Hewish, IT director at United, said: “Data centres can be very energy-hungry and we’re all feeling the impact of electricity prices right now. We’ll be self-sufficient here at Davyhulme, so we can control our energy costs into the future – and our customers will see the benefit of lower operating costs.”
Hewish added: “As well as being super energy-efficient, this project allows us to introduce the right technology that will help us work smarter and provide the very best customer service.”
Andy Hirst, global director at Sudlows, which is also working on the scheme, said: “This new data centre will provide United Utilities with a highly advanced energy efficient facility to support its group wide services and deliver further resilience to its operational functions.”

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