1. Policy Update from Intellect Data
Centres Programme
James Harbidge, Programme Manager, Intellect

2. The political landscape for data
centres... and why you should care!
Content
- Who are Intellect?
- Intellect’s Data Centres Programme
- The ‘Green Agenda’ for data centres
– Industry progress
– Political barriers
– Where are we now?
- The wider battle to be won
– Data Centres underpinning the UK economy – now and in future
– A confusing policy landscape
- Why does this matter?
- What to take away to the commercial world

3. Who are we?
Good for UK Technology
Good for UK Plc
Good for the UK

4. Horizontal
Markets Solutions
issues
Who are we?

5. Representing the industry to...
Consumer
Groups
Government Analysts &
& Regulators Agencies
Media Europe
Other
Networks
Commercially
Member led
neutral

6. Intellect Data Centres Programme
Represents a cross-section of the industry:
- Colocation operators
- Enterprise operators Industry Driving
Representation Professionalism
- Managed services
- Networking Intellect
- Broader IT services
Thought Cross-sector
- Consulting leadership Networking
- Legal services
- Real estate

7. The ‘Green’ agenda...
Good industry progress
• Intellect endorsed the EU Code of Conduct as the first practical
set of guidelines to improve energy efficiency within the data
centre industry – and this remains the case.
• Increasing sharing of best practice - we have been very pleased
to see the Green Grid Maturity Model and broad take-up of PUE
(if understood correctly).

8. However...
These have been industry led - they must be complemented by
policy direction suitable for the data centre sector.
This requires an understanding of data
centres as the backbone of the UK economy which will
underpin the move to a low carbon economy.

9. Why is this important?
Data Centres underpin all the technologies that enable a low
carbon economy, such as smart grid, intelligent transport systems,
smart buildings and smart cities.

10. A growing industry with enormous
potential
The growth in data centres is due to the global demand for data.
The growth in the UK sector has mirrored the growth in demand for
data, with operators reporting over 15% growth per annum

11. A taste of the policy landscape...
Climate Change Climate Change
EU Emissions
Carbon Reduction Levy
Agreements Trading Scheme
Commitment
Energy
EII Compensation Technologies
List
Policy Policy Risk for the
uncertainty unsuitability UK
Dept for Energy &
Dept for Business Green Economy Climate Change
Innovation & Skills Council
Treasury DEFRA
UKTI

12. The wider image of the sector...
‘Most data centres, by
design, consume vast
amounts of energy in an
incongruously wasteful
manner’
‘Power, Pollution
and the Internet’
‘fantasy sports
and photo sharing’

13. Intellect’s role/Where are we now?
Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC)
• Long-time concern for data centre operators
• Over 2 years of emphasising its failings led by Intellect
• Chancellor announced in March 2012 Budget that CRC would be reformed or
scrapped this Autumn
• Now we wait – look out for the Autumn Statement on 5 December
Climate Change Agreement (CCA)
• Intellect is in dialogue with DECC to negotiate a CCA if possible
• We are gathering energy data from as many operators as possible
• Not just better than CRC but an appropriate policy tool going forwards.

14. Why does this all matter?
DCD research suggests that $35
The construction phase, a single
billion will be invested in data
data centre represents around
centres around the world over
£100M of inward investment
the next 12 months alone, of
just for the build
which, 25% will be in Europe.
The wrong policy environment puts the UKs traditionally leading
position at risk and hampers the transition to a low carbon economy.
The UK can be at the forefront of green data centre
development – and should be

15. In summary...
• Data Centres underpin the digital agenda in the UK and are at
the heart of the low carbon economy
• The industry has taken steps to encourage efficiency and best
practice
• This must be complemented by a policy environment
appropriate to a major industry
• The industry, and the need for it, is only growing – so data
centres need to be in the policy landscape
If done, the potential for the UK data centres industry,
environmentally and commercially, is enormous.

16. Further information
For questions and further information on
Intellect and its work, please contact:
James Harbidge, Programme Manager
James.Harbidge@intellectuk.org
020 7331 2173