search.noResults

search.searching

saml.title
dataCollection.invalidEmail
note.createNoteMessage

search.noResults

search.searching

orderForm.title

orderForm.productCode
orderForm.description
orderForm.quantity
orderForm.itemPrice
orderForm.price
orderForm.totalPrice
orderForm.deliveryDetails.billingAddress
orderForm.deliveryDetails.deliveryAddress
orderForm.noItems
• • • DATA CENTRES & UPS • • •


Protecting your assets: resilient energy in a net zero world


Alastair Morris, chief commercial officer of Powerstar, global specialists in power resilience solutions, considers the implications of a net zero future for the industry, looking at traditional uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and the growing trend towards battery energy storage solutions (BESS) to help future-proof mission-critical assets


M


anaging business-critical functions such as data storage, IT and communication systems, a reliable energy supply is central to the security and the smooth operation of every data centre. In a rapidly changing economic landscape, the shift to renewable energy and the focus on net zero have profound implications for businesses generally, but no more so than for data centres, which sit at the heart of Industry 4.0.


According to one recent UK business survey, power failures risk an average loss of 17% annual revenue, equating to £2.8 million for a typical medium-sized business1.


As a headline statistic this is a significant cost but for data centres the issue is even greater, with the potential for reputational loss in the event of a power disruption as well as downtime and data loss, while even a brief spike in power can damage sensitive – and vital – equipment. Historically, data centres have relied upon a traditional UPS to offer peace of mind and protect equipment and data when necessary. However, businesses are increasingly recognising the need for a more comprehensive energy resilience strategy, with the same poll indicating more than half the surveyed businesses envisaging an energy issue in the following twelve months and recognising that energy resilience is increasingly critical for business. The UK is committed to achieving net zero emis- sions by 2050 and non EV car sales are already set to be phased out by 2035. As we collectively move away from fossil fuels – with nearly 40% of the UK’s power coming from renewable sources last year – a reliable energy supply will be critical, with electricity de- mand likely to double, meeting new demands for EV charging, for the requirements of Industry 4.0, and to facilitate the continued shift to renewables. The impli- cations of net zero, with energy resilience at the fore, are vital considerations for data centre management. Traditionally, in the event of a disruption to the grid supply, data centres rely upon a UPS system to provide the power necessary for uninterrupted down- stream demand. This has proved an effective solution, as long as the UPS is properly maintained. However, most of the time the UPS will be sitting idle, but still using power and costing money – a loss of capacity estimated at between 10% and 15%. With the commitment to net zero, continued re- liance on traditional UPS begins to look costly and


electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk


inefficient, both in financial terms as energy costs look set to increase for many businesses from next April, and in reputational and CSR terms, as UPS capacity-loss hinders a company’s path to net zero emissions. With energy resilience becoming a critical issue, the benefits of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) are increasingly apparent: offering greater energy security and cost savings as well as additional flexi- bility and sustainability. A BESS can function at the heart of a smart microgrid, meaning the entire site, including critical processes and sensitive equipment, are protected in the event of a power disruption from the grid – the most important function of any solution to ensure the continued and secure functioning of a data centre. However, unlike a UPS, there is no conversion from AC to DC and back again, meaning the loss of capacity is much lower, around 1%, thus saving costs as well as reducing emissions. The additional capacities of a BESS, in combina- tion with an intelligent energy management system, mean that the system can form an important asset, particularly regarding net zero and the countdown to 2050. Renewable firming is a vital element of a BESS, giving companies a built-in capacity to harness re- newable energy generated on-site.


This allows for solar- or wind-generated power to be stored and used when needed, ensuring that intermit- tent generation does not have an adverse effect on the company’s smart microgrid and workflow, while also


allowing for the potential for such energy to be sold back to the grid, making an additional revenue stream. While 2050 is clearly a key date for a net zero UK, the move to EVs is, perhaps, a more pressing issue and one that ought to be factored into any energy resilience strategy.


As the UK switches to EVs, the need for EV charg- ing is likely to create a significant increase in on-site power demand. The required capacity for this may mean an approach to the DNO (Distribution Network Operator) if the demand takes a company over their authorised capacity, and this could well prove either prohibitively expensive or even be blocked by the DNO. However, the same BESS that manages UPS can also support EV charging capacity through bat- tery storage.


Again, the BESS solution helps work towards net zero commitments, while protecting critical power supply – its principal function.


Mitigating the risk of costly outages through a BESS while offering a host of additional energy strategy op- tions is the driving force behind all research and de- velopment at Powerstar and twenty years’ experience in energy storage solutions inform the company’s focus on Resilience+.


A traditional UPS solution may achieve the vital uninterrupted power supply to keep core functions stable but exploring a BESS solution provides both the power- and business-resilience that may help fu- ture-proof a company, towards 2050 and beyond.


ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • SEPTEMBER 2021 21


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44