Media statement - for immediate release
Tuesday 12 July 2011

State-of-the-art portable data centre to control Christchurch power network

A portable computer facility custom-built in Germany has arrived at the Orion site in Christchurch to house sensitive computer systems crucial to the operation and control of the city's electricity network.

The leading-edge data centre, built to stringent earthquake standards, was urgently needed to protect Orion's sophisticated suite of network control and monitoring equipment which is still operating from the company's earthquake damaged building in the CBD. The main computer room in Orion's Manchester Street building partially sunk after the February 22 earthquake, however its vital computer systems have kept functioning and have not failed during subsequent aftershocks.

Orion now operates from an undamaged building on its site within the cordoned-off CBD red zone, and its backup computer facilities are also located in a secure area onsite. Shortly after the February quake the company began an international search for a robust and portable solution to protect its critical IT equipment - including a new 'smart grid' network management system.

German IT infrastructure provider Rittal was chosen to manufacture a customised facility for Orion - a secure outdoor data centre which is the only one of its kind in Australasia. Four months on, the 15-tonne, 10x3 metre data centre container has arrived in Christchurch and is now being commissioned at Orion's site.

Orion Senior System Engineer Neville Digby says many Australasian utility companies are following the project with interest. Orion has become a test case for installing a robust portable technology solution in the wake of a natural disaster, which can easily move if the company needs to relocate to a new site.

"Commissioning this facility in the next couple of weeks will be a major milestone for Orion and Rittal, and is key to the network's recovery after the earthquakes. Rittal is nearing the end of a huge amount of work to get the data centre ready for operation here - they responded to our urgent request quickly and fast-tracked the manufacturing of the unit to deliver us a solution that fully meets our needs," Mr Digby says.

The data centre was unloaded early Sunday morning at the Lyttelton Port of Christchurch, which suffered earthquake damage but has resumed operations to ensure the safe flow of commodities and goods through the port and assist in the Christchurch rebuild.

Key features of the data centre container include an integrated free cooling plant, specialised computer power systems and a fire suppressant system.

ENDS

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