A project designed to cut energy consumption in the rapidly growing global Data Centre Sector has been shortlisted for a prestigious global award.

The team from Heriot-Watt’s Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS) used the groundbreaking Dearman engine and were shortlisted as finalists in the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) awards.

The project could see energy consumption reduce by 50%. Currently, there are around eight million private and commercial data centres globally, with the digital world predicted to grow 44 times between 2009 and 2020.

Over half the electricity consumed by these centres is for cooling and the shortlisted project brings together innovative technologies developed in Malaysia and the UK, aiming to improve the sustainability of data centres by changing the way they are cooled.

Now, the project is set to reduce energy consumption as well as reduce localised emissions caused by diesel powered back-up generators.

The project was a partnership effort between Heriot-Watt University, Universiti Teknologi in Malaysia, the Dearman Engine Company and Green Data Center LLP.

Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer, Director of Heriot-Watt’s Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS), said:

“This is great recognition for our project and we’ve all been celebrating reaching the final of these prestigious awards.

“There were over 240 entries from over 21 different countries, so we’re thrilled to have made it through to the shortlist.

“Our multidisciplinary project really is something special in that it addresses sustainability as well as creating new market opportunities for green data centres worldwide.”

Scott Mac Meekin, Chief Executive Officer at Dearman said:

“On behalf of all the partners involved, we are thrilled to have made it the finals of this global award. This is an important project because by 2030, without intervention, data centres will consume 10% of global electricity.”

Now in its 23rd year, the IChemE Global Awards is widely recognised as the world’s most prestigious chemical engineering awards ceremony.

Winners from each category will be revealed on 2 November 2017.