Driving Data Center Energy Efficiency With AI-Based Digital Twins

Data centers and technical sites represent one of the largest energy-consumption hotspots in the technology and telecom sectors. As data traffic grows and capacity demands surge, optimizing energy consumption is essential to contain costs, reduce environmental impact, and strengthen the operational resilience of the network.

That’s why Telefónica has taken a decisive step in its energy-efficiency strategy with the implementation of an innovative management and optimization solution developed by Telefónica Germany in collaboration with the company EkkoSense. The project is part of Telefónica’s Autonomous Network Journey (ANJ), and is already under way using IoT sensors, advanced analytics, and a real-time 3D digital twin called EkkoSoft Critical to transform the thermal management of critical infrastructure and advance toward a more efficient and automated operating model. 

Telefónica Germany is directly addressing the challenges of managing growth and capacity increases while at the same time optimizing energy consumption and strengthening network resilience. Introducing real-time intelligence and predictive capabilities with the EkkoSoft Critical Digital Twin software will support Telefónica in managing climate control more precisely, improving Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), preventing premature expansions, and optimizing the organization’s data center infrastructure investments.

The deployed Digital Twin solution enables Telefónica to monitor the status of critical data center and technical site equipment in real time, and ensure that the company’s data center operations team maintains a dynamic thermal and load risk map. The EkkoSense Digital Twin also ensures that the team receives automated recommendations to eliminate any inefficiencies, extend equipment life, and maintain operational continuity. 

Deployment of the EkkoSoft Critical Digital Twin solution has been remarkably fast. New Telefónica sites can be integrated in days with no service interruption, and without the need for any construction work or additional infrastructure. EkkoSense’s software provides full 3D data center digital twin modeling, visualization, and presentation of the physical, electrical, and thermal capacity of Telefónica Germany rooms across the estate. 

This maximizes operational efficiency without compromising performance, and the software also enables the team to analyze infrastructure performance by running simulations against both failure scenarios and future design action plans to minimize risk exposure.

According to Telefónica Germany’s Head of Housing & Site Infrastructure, Rüdiger Kunze states that, “Digitalization makes the data center visible, automation makes it intelligent. EkkoSense’s Digital Twin software combines both elements, enabling our data center operators to redefine energy efficiency and proactively guide their infrastructure into the future.”

Commenting on the project, EkkoSense’s CEO Dean Boyle explained that “one of the main barriers to data center optimization has always been the complexity of traditional management tools such as DCIM (Data Center Infrastructure Management). At EkkoSense we’re able to solve this challenge for Telefónica Germany by drawing on new levels of sensing granularity, real-time analytics, and 3D visualization capabilities. This combines to create a concise digital twin of the Telefónica data center environment. Adopting this approach makes immersive 3D real-time optimization a reality – from the smallest Edge technical site through to the largest data center facility.”

Digital Twin project results demonstrate efficiency improvements

Initial evaluations of the Telefónica Germany Digital Twin program indicate an estimated 15–20% reduction in energy consumption for data center cooling systems. These savings will have an immediate impact on energy OpEx, helping to improve overall data center operational efficiency.

Telefónica’s Digital Twin approach has also unlocked benefits in terms of improved utilization, more proactive maintenance, and simplified reporting. Continuous monitoring of each room’s thermal behavior enables improved capacity utilization, avoiding further data center investments until they are absolutely necessary. At the same time, the EkkoSense Digital Twin software helps to prevent risks through predictive alerts and proactive maintenance. The solution also simplifies reporting with automated and auditable data, building a more resilient operating model capable of handling increases in IT load. 

Accelerating the adoption of energy-efficiency technologies across Telefónica Group

Telefónica Germany and EkkoSense’s Digital Twin project will be progressively rolled out over the next few years, prioritizing the highest-consumption sites. Telefónica will continue extending this approach to other markets within the Group, sharing learnings, developments, and success stories to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficiency technologies. 

Through initiatives like this, Telefónica reaffirms its commitment to building more efficient, resilient, and sustainable digital infrastructure – capable of supporting growing traffic, expanding digital services, and advancing the transition toward a more responsible energy model. 

Visitors to the Innovation Experience Area of O2 Telefónica Germany in Munich – a facility dedicated to technology innovation – will be able to see a demonstration of the Digital Twin solution and EkkoSense’s software in action. It will also be on display at LaCabina, the space in Distrito Telefónica in Madrid that features additional demos led by the GCTIO area showing how Telefónica is making steady progress on its Autonomous Network Journey.

As Technical Account Director at EkkoSense, James Kirkwood has been instrumental in developing the company’s distinctive data center optimization approach that helps customers to gain the maximum benefit from EkkoSense’s award-winning EkkoSoft Critical AI-enabled 3D visualization and analytics platform. James holds a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Nottingham University, and has worked in the data center and telecommunications sector for the past 20 years. Before joining EkkoSense, he developed new free-air cooling products around the globe, and also worked as a National Energy Manager for BT.