Dublin, Ireland – August 2026 – Google has announced a 14% reduction in cooling system energy consumption and 99.99% system uptime after deploying the ABB DO880 3BSE028602R output module at its Dublin data center. The upgrade, completed in Q2 2026, addressed energy inefficiencies and reliability issues in the center’s legacy power distribution and cooling systems—where outdated modules lacked precision control and remote monitoring, costing Google €380,000 annually in excess energy costs.
The Challenge: Energy Waste and Limited Visibility in Data Center Operations
Google’s Dublin data center, powering 400,000+ daily user requests, faced three key challenges with its old output modules:
- Inefficient Cooling Control: Legacy modules had ±5% control precision for chilled water valves, leading to overcooling (18% of cooling energy was wasted) and inconsistent server temperatures.
- No Remote Monitoring: Technicians had to physically inspect modules to identify issues, resulting in 4–5 unplanned outages per year (each lasting 1–2 hours) due to undetected failures.
- Power Distribution Delays: Old modules had 60ms signal latency for UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) switching, risking server downtime during grid fluctuations.
“Data centers are energy-intensive, and every percentage point in efficiency counts,” said Eoin O’Connor, Google’s Data Center Facilities Manager. “Our old modules were wasting energy and leaving us in the dark about potential issues—we needed a precise, connected solution to optimize operations.”
ABB DO880 3BSE028602R: The Energy-Smart Output Module for Data Centers
After testing competitors from Eaton and Schneider Electric, Google selected the ABB DO880 3BSE028602R for its precision control, remote monitoring, and energy efficiency:
- ±0.1% Control Precision: Delivers exact control of chilled water valves and cooling fans, eliminating overcooling and maintaining server temperatures within 20±0.5°C.
- ABB Ability™ Remote Monitoring: Integrates with Google’s data center management platform, providing real-time visibility into module status (voltage, temperature, output levels) and triggering alerts for anomalies.
- 5ms UPS Switching Response: Ensures instant UPS activation during grid fluctuations, preventing server downtime.
- Low Power Consumption: Uses just 2.5W of power per module (30% less than legacy alternatives), reducing the center’s overall energy footprint.
- Redundant Design: Dual-channel redundancy prevents single-point failures, critical for 24/7 data center operations.
