FEATURE UPS & STANDBY POWER
SAVING THE PLANET and saving you money
UPS (uninterruptible power supply) technology has advanced considerably over the last decade meaning that legacy units more than seven years old are typically difficult to support. Newer UPS technology is not only more efficient but can achieve significant savings, as Darren Pearce, managing director at Powertecnique, explains
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n older UPS units it is not unusual that parts will need regular replacement, and excess process heat means that air conditioning units have to work harder. By using the latest technology UPS units can be up to 58% more energy efficient and show considerable savings per year in energy costs. In addition it can also reduce your Climate Change Levy (CCL) payment and air conditioning bill. Therefore, the importance of increasing
your energy efficiency and working towards a better planet cannot be underestimated. For most companies, saving money and the environment are high on their list of priorities, and ensuring that you have an energy efficient UPS is an easy way to achieve both. As well as making a company more financially better off, these savings will also make a company greener, more environmentally friendly and socially conscious. Often the purchase of new equipment
can be costly and companies question the real benefits. However, with the rapid developments made in UPS technology, it is possible to calculate a big return on your investment and reduce your carbon footprint.
REDUCING YOUR ENERGY BILL Energy inefficiency plagues older UPS units. Cumbersome legacy units produce excess heat which not only wastes energy, but requires constant cooling. It’s possible that your company could be spending money unnecessarily on close control air conditioning units when upgrading your UPS unit could decrease your need to cool the room. The latest UPS systems are highly energy efficient - saving you money and lessening the carbon footprint of your business. The less energy that is needed means the less carbon emitted, meaning a better planet for all. So how does it work? New UPS units are more energy
efficient at various load levels, especially at lower loads. IT and server equipment loads typically change every two or three years, whereas UPS units are often left
14 MARCH 2014 | ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
for up to ten years. It is like running an iPhone on a Nokia 3310 battery. Older UPS systems’ efficiency ratings
range from 92% at 100% load but drop to 89% at 25% load. Powertecnique’s new eKasar range is 96% efficient at between 25% and 100% load. This is particularly important if you use an N+1 level of redundancy in your installation, as UPS systems are then rarely working above a 50% load in this configuration.
THE CCL The government is making progress in helping companies protect the environment we share through the CCL tax. This tax focuses on energy delivered to non-domestic users and aims to incentivise energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. On 1st April last year we saw a tax increase and there are ongoing calls to scale it into a full blown carbon tax. Upgrading your legacy UPS units is an
easy way to conform to the government’s incentives and reduce the CCL you pay. No one knows exactly what taxation could be on the horizon and energy efficient UPS units will keep you ahead of any changes made. Five of Powertecnique’s eKasar products
have recently been accredited by the Carbon Trust which offers tax relief and capital allowances for customers to ensure that they can claim tax back when using the eKasar unit.
EFFICIENCY CONTROL SYSTEM In parallel systems, the ‘Efficiency Control System’ (ECS) function enables the UPS to be switched on and off automatically according to load variations, while retaining the level of redundancy defined by the operator. This reduces the total energy dissipated by the system since only those UPSs required to power the connected load remain switched on. In addition, the intelligent fan control
monitors the fans in the machine and reacts to the load levels, so at low loads
Right: demonstrating what a difference a new UPS could make for your energy efficiency over legacy systems
Below: Powertecnique is a builder and installer of UPS and generator systems for critical power applications and harsh environments. Specialising in the design of low and high voltage back-up power systems rated from 5kVA to 10MVA
the fans will idle but at higher loads, the speed ramps up and creates more airflow.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE Refreshing your legacy UPS with new efficient technology will typically have a payback within three to five years. Though upgrading your units will save you money throughout the total cost of ownership (TCO), you cannot put a price on the environmental difference it will make. Businesses and consumers are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious and asking everyone to become greener. You would be wise to join the growing trend and be proud of your green credentials. When running a business, there is often
a hard balance to strike between managing costs and your social responsibilities, and it can feel like one comes at the expense of the other. Upgrading your legacy UPS is an easy and affordable change which saves you money and cuts your carbon footprint. It is advisable to review your current
UPS set-up and upgrade any units seven years or older as they will be due for capacitor and battery replacements since seven years is usually the life expectancy of these components. There is a high chance these units are not meeting the easily achievable energy efficiency levels new units are capable of. A small change can make a big difference.
Powertecnique
www.powertecnique.com T: 01489 560700
Enter 206 / ELECTRICALENGINEERING
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