‘Combination Architecture’ To Produce Greener Power

AEG Power Solutions has launched what it is calling a ‘Combination Architecture’ for standby power solutions like a UPS (uninterruptible power supply), commonly used in mission-critical facilities such as data centres, server rooms and computer centres.

A UPS system often uses a lead acid battery that provides emergency power in the event of a main line power cut. However lead acid batteries are highly toxic, and nowadays there are newer alternatives that can enhance power system efficiency and reduce an organisation’s carbon footprint.

“Balancing continuing demands for greater and more reliable computing capacity in a world facing ever-tightening regulation of carbon emissions and the challenge of controlling power costs is now a major concern for everyone involved in the data centre industry” says Michael Adams, global vice president of data and IT at AEG Power Solutions.

He points to the fact that UPS systems account for a substantial part of the energy used by today’s facilities, and that if an organisation is able to select a more efficient technology that can optimise backup power supply, it would be a critical step going forward to meet the power cost and carbon emission challenge.

The ‘Combination Architecture’ from AEG Power Solutions will include a new generation of standby power systems that is capable of harnessing renewable and alternative energy sources.  These technologies include ultra capacitors (or supercapacitors), fuel cells, solar cell and wind power energy.

“Our unique Combination Architecture systems will deliver what our customers need most – a way to drive down infrastructure operating costs, provide additional energy to boost computing capacity and reduce the data centre carbon footprint to help make our world greener and cleaner,” said Adams.

Adams said that AEG Power Solutions would be previewing at CeBIT one such example of the application of Combination Architecture, namely that of a SuperCaps UPS. This new product allows for the whole or partial replacement of the traditional (but toxic) lead acid battery bank. Instead it uses a more environmentally-friendly solution that needs less maintenance, provides faster recycling, and eliminates the need for additional cooling.

“A clean and secure supply of power is critical to today’s data centres and IT facilities. Any power failure can have a devastating impact on mission-critical computers, communications and data, resulting in costly downtime,” said Adams. “Combination Architecture is the next step forward to more efficient, environmentally responsible standby power.”

He said the company is also designing other new solutions, including one that incorporates a fuel cell.