Environment Agency set to use "world's greenest datacentre"

Capgemini's Merlin datacentre has "the best PUE rating of any datacentre globally"

The Environment Agency will use Capgemini’s soon-to-be-launched Merlin datacentre, which the outsourcing provider claims is the world’s most energy efficient and sustainable.

A spokesman from the government department confirmed that it will begin using the datacentre in September.

Capgemini claims its 30,000 square foot facility will set a new standard for energy efficiency, as it has the best power usage effectiveness (PUE) rating of any datacentre globally, according to the firm.

The Merlin datacentre produces a PUE output of 1.08; the industry standard is a little more than 2.5 PUE. It consists of 12 modules, each 2,500 square metres in area. The Environment Agency will use two of these modules, and Capgemini is in talks with other customers regarding the use of the remaining 10.

The facility uses an innovative cooling system: each module is equipped with a dedicated Air Optimiser climate control cooling unit as well as modular BMS and climate control.

It is one of only four sites in the UK that is certified as an Uptime Institute-certified Tier 3 datacentre.