Colocation data centers, perhaps more than most businesses, are on a constant journey towards peak operational efficiency. More often than not, data centers measure and adjust the mechanical side of their facility, such as cooling, to increase efficiency, while passing over the electrical distribution side. They replace their UPS batteries every few years and move on. However, given the latest advancements in energy storage and electrical distribution infrastructure, data centers can be doing a lot more with their electrical components to conserve space, reduce costs, and decrease waste. There are plenty of claims out there that insist traditional static battery UPS systems are the only way to go, but these claims are simply not true.
More reliable, cost-effective, and efficient approaches to data center electrical distribution design are actually utilizing the most recent models of diesel rotary uninterruptible power supplies (DRUPS). These newer models are simplified, more reliable, require less maintenance, and have a longer life-cycle, making them superior to battery UPS and flywheel systems. Below you will find a discussion of the more widely-used traditional battery UPS systems and the newer DRUPS systems that continue to supplant them in modern data center designs.