Dublin Data Centres Risk & Energy Reduction Programme

Location: Dublin, Ireland

Integrated Risk and Energy Reduction Programme Across Multiple Tier III Data Centres

Our client operated a portfolio of Tier III data centres located in Dublin, Ireland, each providing multi‑megawatt IT capacity supported by air‑side free cooling systems.

The organisation sought a comprehensive programme for their award-winning facilities to further improve energy performance, reduce operational risk, and embed capability within on‑site teams to independently perform energy and risk assessments. Rather than relying on external consultants, the client wanted to build internal competence, establish a common technical language, and cultivate a culture of continuous operational improvement across all Dublin sites.

Our approach

We designed and delivered a structured 14‑month Risk & Energy Reduction Programme, applied consistently across both data centres but tailored to their individual capacities and operational characteristics. The programme was delivered through on‑site, workshop‑based sessions that combined theory with practical techniques directly relevant to the client’s mechanical and electrical infrastructure.

The workshops covered:

Comprehensive risk and energy assessments
Development of risk and energy reduction recommendations
Facilitation of presentation and validation of reduction plans

Each session engaged engineering, operations, and facilities teams, enabling them to interpret site conditions, identify inefficiencies, and recommend targeted improvements.

Both data centres participated in a unified methodology, ensuring consistency while maintaining flexibility for site‑specific issues. The approach emphasised shared learning, open communication, and progressive skill‑building, leading to strong cross‑team alignment.

Facility details

The programme covered two Tier III data centres featuring:

3.0 MW and 2.6 MW IT loads
4,000 m² and 2,800 m² technical areas
Air side free cooling as a core part of the cooling strategy
Live operating facilities requiring minimum disruption and risk mitigations during works

Services

The project consisted of the following service areas:

Training

Key outcomes

The combined programme delivered several high‑impact results across both facilities:

On‑site teams completed all risk and energy assessments independently.
Staff generated effective recommendations for risk and energy reduction, strengthening ownership.
A common technical language was established across engineering and operations teams.
The organisation achieved tangible reductions in energy waste and operational risk.
Innovation increased at all levels, driven by empowered and informed teams.
A strong sense of ownership and collaboration developed across both sites, enabling long‑term improvement beyond the programme.

End result

By combining structured workshops with practical, site‑specific techniques, the programme transformed how the Dublin data centres approached energy and risk management. The client emerged with more capable teams, improved PUE performance, and a scalable internal methodology for ongoing optimisation across its wider data centre estate. The project had a high impact on energy reduction with a payback period of just a few months.

Our client, Norland Managed Services, said, “The programme consisted of theory and practice based workshops delivered in an open and inclusive environment and was attended by both Critical Environments and IT Personnel in an attempt to foster an integrated approach to energy efficiency. We found the program to be hugely beneficial in educating operational teams about energy drivers, risk profiling, process improvement and energy cost savings.

As a result the programme delivered significant financial savings and promoted greater team integration and communication. Operational Intelligence (now part of MiCiM) was key in delivering these results through their bespoke approach to operational learning, the development of intuitive measurement tools and metrics and the engagement with program attendees.”