Information technology - Data centres - Key performance indicators - Part 3: Renewable energy factor (REF)

Overview

ISO/IEC 30134-3:2016 is the third part of the series of key performance indicators (KPIs) defined for data centres, and it defines the renewable energy factor (REF). REF expresses the share of the energy used by a data centre that comes from renewable sources. The standard contains the definition of the indicator, a methodology to calculate and present it, and information on interpreting it correctly. The first edition was published on 19 April 2016 and runs to 11 pages.

The formula details, which kinds of contracted renewable energy may be counted, and the certification rules are therefore not covered here. For those details the standard itself must be consulted. The design notes below follow the design implications given in the record.

REF is best read together with PUE. PUE shows how efficiently a facility uses energy, whereas REF addresses where the energy comes from. The two indicators therefore complement rather than replace each other: a very efficient facility may still use non-renewable energy, and a facility using renewable energy may be inefficient. The record also suggests presenting it alongside CUE. Taken together, this means the standard's wording must be checked before any figure is published.

Related documents are ISO/IEC 30134-1 (general requirements), EN 50600-4-3 (the corresponding European KPI document) and ISO/IEC 30134-8. In a sustainability module, REF can be shown between 0 and 1 as the sum of on-site generation and contracted renewables meeting the standard's rules, divided by total data centre energy. As a limit, this record is a summary only, and the finer points of the calculation should be verified against the full text.

Key points

1. Defines the renewable energy factor (REF) of a data centre.
2. Specifies a methodology to calculate and present REF.
3. Provides information on the correct interpretation of REF.
4. Edition 1, published 19 April 2016, 11 pages.
5. Complements PUE: PUE addresses efficiency, REF addresses the source of energy.
6. Related documents: ISO/IEC 30134-1, EN 50600-4-3 and ISO/IEC 30134-8.
7. Paid standard; this summary uses only the publisher's public abstract and product metadata.

Using it in design

• In the sustainability module, show REF on a 0-1 scale next to PUE and CUE.
• Model REF as on-site generation plus contracted renewables that meet the standard's rules, divided by total data centre energy.
• Model on-site PV and PPAs as separate inputs so the REF breakdown stays auditable.
• Before calculating, verify from the full text of the standard which renewable energy certificates are accepted.

Who should read it

Designers preparing sustainability reports, energy managers and operations teams tracking data centre KPIs.

Related standards

• ISO/IEC 30134-1
• EN 50600-4-3
• ISO/IEC 30134-8

Publication details

Authors

ISO/IEC JTC 1

Publisher

ISO/IEC

Year

2016

Document number

ISO/IEC 30134-3:2016

Document language

English

Source type

Standard

Access

Citation only

Licence

Copyright retained; citation only — the publisher’s terms apply to the original document

Citation