What constitutes the primary power supply architecture of modern data centers, and how is their energy efficiency evaluated and optimized?

Modern data centers rely on a dual-power framework: primary electricity from the municipal grid supplemented by backup generators—typically diesel or gasoline-powered units that activate during grid outages to ensure uninterrupted operation. Energy efficiency is quantified using the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) metric, which compares total facility energy consumption against the energy dedicated solely to IT equipment. A PUE of 1.2 indicates high efficiency, with minimal energy wasted on non-essential systems, while a PUE of 2.0 signifies equal energy usage between IT operations and auxiliary systems like cooling.   To optimize PUE, facilities employ strategic design approaches including precision thermal management systems, utilization of ambient cooling sources (such as arctic climate locations), and adaptive infrastructure adjustments based on environmental conditions. These measures collectively reduce the energy footprint of non-IT components while maintaining optimal server performance.