• • • DATA CENTRES & UPS• • •
How UPS Systems in data centres are balancing energy
use and maximising stability By Russell Payne, application engineering manager at Vertiv
A
ccording to the International Energy Agency, efforts to address climate change are leading to the rapid electrification of numerous end-uses from transport to industry, driving a massive increase in power demand as well as the need to generate as much of it as possible from renewable sources. However, the transfer of generation from large fossil fuel power plants has left power networks less predictable and more susceptible to networks faults. As a result, matching demand to available supply and building in greater system resilience is the most prescient challenge for the new renewable-powered grid.
Data centre providers are in a position to help balance grid services. They need to be running continuously, so they implement uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems to maintain a continuous supply of power. They provide instantaneous emergency power for a short time (five to 10 minutes) to critical devices such as servers and other electronic components found in
mission critical power networks, using the energy that is typically stored in a rechargeable battery. Unlike generators or other backup power supplies that can take a few seconds to kick in, a UPS system provides no-break in the power, carrying the critical load until the longer-lasting backup power supplies can engage and take over, or in case of an extended outage with no generator, enabling applications and servers to safely shut down to avoid any loss of data. They provide enough power for the IT load until the grid is back online, or until additional grid generators kick in.
Tackling imbalances
When mismatches in energy from grid energy providers and consumers occur, grid frequencies begin to change. Then, when supply rises above demand, the frequency rises, and vice versa. The greater the intermittency of energy supply with renewable inputs, the more often imbalances arise. Furthermore, traditional frequency regulation
is too slow for today’s demands where containment reserves must be able to increase or reduce electricity demand within milli-seconds. Some large power UPS systems not only include
battery energy storage that can be used to alleviate grid infrastructure constraints, they offer equipment owners the potential to provide grid services. They also enable revenue generation as well as cost savings on electricity use. These systems can provide grid-balancing
services by using one of the two types of energy devices, ‘behind the meter’ which refers to the power used on-site, on the energy user’s side of the meter, or ‘In front of the meter’ which provides electricity on the grid and utility side, and is a different proposal in not prioritising the critical load. These services can be advantageous for any electrically powered critical asset that consumes electricity.
According to Omdia’s Market Landscape,
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) report, ‘Enabling the BESS to interact with the smart
48 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • SEPTEMBER 2024
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
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