Energy
Every member organisation of the Velocity Interoperability Network reports the energy used by its registered physical sites to the Environment Department of the Velocity Interoperability Network. Reports are made against the schedule set out under How to report and are used to publish aggregate energy figures for the Network, to measure progress against the efficiency targets and, through the factors published under Emissions and monitoring, to account for the emissions of every site on the same basis.
The requirements apply equally to every site whatever its size. A data hall drawing several megawatts and an office with a single equipment room report the same five figures, at the same intervals, in the same units. What differs is the effort involved, and the Department's guidance is written so that a small site can meet the requirements with a meter reading and a short message.
What must be reported
- Electricity consumption
- Metered electricity consumption for each site, reported quarterly in kilowatt-hours.
- Fuel consumption
- Fuel consumed by standby generators and heating plant, reported quarterly by fuel type.
- Power usage effectiveness
- Power usage effectiveness for each site that houses Network equipment, reported annually.
- Low-carbon supply
- The proportion of electricity supplied from renewable or contracted low-carbon sources, reported annually.
- Supply capacity
- Any change to a site's metered supply capacity, reported within 30 days of the change.
Refrigerant top-ups and cooling water drawn are reported quarterly alongside these figures, from the records kept by the site's maintainer. How they are used in the Network's emissions accounts is set out under Emissions and monitoring.
Efficiency targets
- Power usage effectiveness of 1.4 or lower
- At every site housing Network equipment, to be reached within three years of a site's registration.
- A 3 per cent annual reduction
- A year-on-year reduction of at least 3 per cent in electricity consumed per unit of installed equipment.
- Half of electricity from low-carbon sources
- At least half of each site's electricity supplied from renewable or contracted low-carbon sources.
- No unnecessary generator running
- No standby generator run for testing beyond the hours required by the site's resilience standard.
A worked example. The table below shows how the annual figures for a data hall are derived from its meters and its register entry.
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total site electricity for the year | 1,400,000 kWh | From the site's supply meter |
| Electricity consumed by Network equipment | 1,000,000 kWh | From the sub-meter serving the equipment rooms |
| Power usage effectiveness | 1.40 | 1,400,000 divided by 1,000,000; meets the target |
| Electricity under a certified low-carbon contract | 770,000 kWh | From the supplier's certificate |
| Low-carbon share | 55% | 770,000 divided by 1,400,000; meets the target |
| Installed equipment | 250 kW rated load | From the register entry |
| Electricity per unit of equipment | 4,000 kWh per kW | 1,000,000 divided by 250; compared with the previous year |
Standby supply tests. The power standard requires the standby supply to be tested at full load. The frequency and duration of the test depend on the class of the site, and every test is reported to the Department within 14 days. Fuel burned in testing is counted in the quarterly fuel figure but is excluded from the calculation of electricity per unit of equipment.
| Class of site | Frequency | Duration | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data hall | Quarterly | 2 hours at full load | Within 14 days |
| Exchange | Quarterly | 1 hour at full load | Within 14 days |
| Transmission site | Quarterly | 1 hour at full load | Within 14 days |
| Office with equipment room | Half-yearly | 30 minutes at full load | Within 14 days |
A site that does not expect to meet a target may apply to the Department for a revised target, stating the reason and the date by which the original target will be met; the procedure is under How to report. Standards for the physical protection of sites are set out under Sites. Enquiries may be sent to contact@environment.gov.vin; common questions about metering, apportionment and low-carbon supply are answered in the frequently asked questions.
Reporting
Reports are made quarterly for consumption and annually for power usage effectiveness and the low-carbon share of supply. The calendar and the steps a member organisation follows are set out under How to report.
The first quarterly reports cover the fourth quarter of 2026 and are due on 30 January 2027.
