Are Technological Innovations Impacting UPS Product Demand?

With the growing adoption of cloud computing and cloud-based services, the number and size of data centres worldwide are increasing rapidly. Leading cloud service providers, such as Google, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, have developed numerous large-scale data centre projects in recent years and are expected to continue driving innovation in cloud computing.

In addition, the number of social media users is rising. Statistics from 2019 show that there were approximately 3.2 billion active social media users worldwide, representing almost 42% of the global population. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest contain vast amounts of visual content, further increasing demand for reliable and efficient data storage.

Data centre downtime and power outages increase the risk of hardware damage and data loss. One study estimates that downtime costs an average of approximately US$5,600 per minute. Statistics also suggest that 93% of organisations experiencing more than 10 days of data centre downtime filed for bankruptcy within one year of the incident.

These risks create a strong demand for uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems. UPS systems protect hardware and help prevent data loss or corruption. The global data centre UPS market is estimated to reach US$5 billion by 2026.

How are technological advances making UPS technology more efficient?

Enterprises are increasingly relying on edge and micro data centres to take advantage of trends and technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing and mobile applications. These technologies require computing power closer to the network edge. This is encouraging manufacturers to upgrade existing UPS technologies to make them more compact, sustainable and energy-efficient.

Advances and innovations in UPS technology aim to provide cost-effective protection for edge and micro data centres. Developments in three-phase UPS systems promise greater efficiency and modularity, lower total cost of ownership, improved connectivity and a reduced carbon footprint.

UPS systems are becoming more compact

Reducing the physical footprint of UPS systems is a major challenge, particularly in edge data centres. Ongoing developments show that modern UPS systems can be up to 25% or more compact than older models while offering additional features and higher power density. Newer models require only about 6 inches of rear clearance, compared with 22 to 30 inches for legacy UPS systems.

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Today's UPS systems are more energy-efficient

The adoption of energy-saving technologies is making UPS systems more energy-efficient. These features can increase efficiency from approximately 94% in older UPS systems to around 99% in newer models. Based on average Australian electricity rates, actual savings will vary depending on local energy costs and operating conditions.

Increased use of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries

Using Li-ion batteries in UPS systems offers several operational advantages over conventional valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries. Li-ion batteries can withstand higher operating temperatures and last up to three times longer than VRLA alternatives. They are also lighter and more compact, further reducing space requirements.

Regulatory requirements are also encouraging manufacturers to invest in research and development (R&D) for more energy-efficient products. ASHRAE recently released a revised version of its energy standard for data centres, ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 90.4. The updated standard includes significant improvements to UPS technology and other equipment to make data centres more sustainable and efficient.

Increasing power outages and data centre downtime, along with the resulting risks of data loss and hardware damage, are expected to drive the adoption of efficient UPS solutions for data centres. Greater R&D efforts and investment by industry players will continue to shape industry trends in the coming years.

Source: Mission Critical Magazine