Energy usage is a focus for many at the moment. For IT, it seems
to be a big focus - mainly as organisations become more aware of
how much energy is wasted in their data centre facilities.
However, it is likely to be brought into even greater focus in
the not so far distant future, as the looming energy deficit
starts to become more apparent. A mix of short-sightedness and
prevarication by politicians means that the UK is now at a
position where it is unlikely that it will be able to meet all
its consumers' energy needs in just a few years - the UK's
energy market overseer, Ofgem predicts that the UK's current
energy generation over-capacity of 14% could fall to 4% in just
3 years. The failure, or the need to take down for even planned
maintenance - of only one generation plant could lead to
insufficient power being available for all the country's needs.
Therefore, planned outages will be required to be put in place -
and the biggest energy users will be targeted where overall
country needs will not be advers