Data Centers
Ongoing
SIEC – Advancement of the Metric Server Idle Energy Coefficient
Period:
-
The Server Idle Energy Coefficient (SIEC) makes the unnecessary energy consumption of servers in data centers visible and measurable. The project extends the existing PUE metric to include server utilization and tests the method in real data center environments — aiming for future standardization.
Servers in data centers typically operate at only 15-40% capacity, yet consume significant energy even when idle. The predominant metric, PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness), does not capture this inefficiency—it only measures the ratio of total energy to IT energy, without addressing whether the IT performs productive work. The Server Idle Energy Coefficient (SIEC) fills this gap.
IDED (formerly SDIA) is further developing the SIEC metric on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency and testing it under real conditions. The method quantifies the energy consumption of servers when idle or underutilized relative to their maximum capacity. Measurements are taken via internal interfaces (IPMI, RAPL) without additional hardware. Together with three partners, we validate the metric on various server models, operating systems, and virtualization environments, including GPU and FPGA-based systems.
Work Packages
WP1 – Analysis and development of the SIEC metric: Testing the method on different server models, operating systems, and virtualization environments. Developing efficiency scenarios. Detailed examination of GPU-based servers and FPGA accelerators. Preparing the method for standardization.
WP2 – Practical testing: Implementation in five different data centers. Implementation and monitoring of efficiency measures. Documentation and adjustment of the metric based on real operating data.
WP3 – Brochure "Energy-Efficient IT in Data Centers": Creation of an accessible brochure that presents the SIEC method and achieved efficiency gains for IT departments, server operators, and cloud providers.
WP4 – Feasibility of standardization: Examining integration into EN 50600 and ISO 30134 as a recognized data center metric.
Expected Results
The project delivers a validated, practice-tested metric that enables data center operators to quantify the energy loss due to underutilization of individual servers for the first time. The accompanying brochure makes the method accessible to practitioners. The standardization review paves the way for broad market penetration.
our partners
Data Center Excellence GmbH (dc-e): Specializes in measurement technology and metrics for data centers. Responsible for the development and validation of the measurement methodology for SIEC.
University of Paderborn: Provides the HPC lab environment for controlled tests, including GPU- and FPGA-based server systems (Atos BullSequana, Cray CS500, Nvidia A100/A40).
X-Ion GmbH: Cloud operator with Kubernetes-based infrastructure. Supplies real operational data from data center operations for practical testing.
The team behind the project
Max Schulze – Project Lead. Oversees overall coordination and is responsible for the strategic direction of the project.
Jessica Stüer – Project Management. Coordinates operational execution and collaborates with the German Environment Agency.
Ludger Ackermann (dc-e) – Measurement Methodology. Develops and refines the technical measurement method for the SIEC.
Stefan Rohde (University of Paderborn) – HPC Tests. Manages the execution of controlled tests in the high-performance computing environment.
Mirko Lüdemann (X-Ion GmbH) – Cloud Tests. Provides practical data from productive cloud operations and evaluates the applicability of the metric.
Publications
Minutes of the SIEC Workshop in Berlin on February 13, 2025 - conducted as part of the Federal Environment Agency's research project
Analysis
Digital Infrastructure
Germany
Project Update
No updates on this project at the moment.
Profile
Period
–
Budget
€269.841,00
Category
Data Centers
Status
Ongoing
Funding Identifier
37EV 23 102 0