Lithium-ion batteries can reduce replacement frequency, footprint and Total Cost of Ownership
Southampton, UK [October 16, 2017] – Vertiv, formerly Emerson Network Power, announced the availability of a new energy storage solution for several of its Liebert® Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems: lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries designed specifically for UPS applications are smaller, lighter and last longer than traditional valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries, presenting an alternative for organizations seeking to leverage the benefits offered by these advanced battery technologies.
Available now across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) , the lithium-ion solutions are fully tested and compatible with Liebert EXL S1 and Liebert Trinergy Cube, while Vertiv engineers are working to extend these to the entire three-phase UPS portfolio.
“Lithium-ion batteries may seem a new concept within the data centre space, but at Vertiv we have quite a history of offering UPS solutions with lithium-ion battery backup worldwide.” said Giovanni Zanei, AC power product marketing director for Vertiv in EMEA. “Our customers are increasingly appreciating the benefits of lithium-ion battery technologies and our experience in this field means that we can deliver a broad range of options that have been tested within different operating environments and applications, and that meet the highest quality standards.”
Lithium-ion batteries have been common in consumer electronics for decades, providing compact, lightweight, long-lasting energy storage for cell phones, laptops and tablets. More recently, those same characteristics have driven expanded applications of the technology in cars, airplanes and, increasingly, data centres. Among the latest projects in EMEA, Vertiv has configured two 800 kVA Liebert Trinergy Cube UPS with eight strings of lithium-ion batteries. The system, designed for one of the world’s leading fashion companies based in Europe, can be easily scaled to 2,4 MW to keep up with growing data centre capacities.
Lithium-ion batteries are available for new build, retrofit or modular constructions and the benefits are substantial. Lithium-ion batteries are 70 percent smaller and considerably lighter than VRLA counterparts, significantly reducing the footprint of the battery cabinets and in some cases enabling in-row battery storage. Additionally, lithium-ion batteries support higher operating temperatures better than VRLA, which can also help cut battery cooling costs.
Perhaps most importantly, depending on chemistry and utilization, lithium-ion batteries can last up to three times as long as VRLA. In most cases, VRLA batteries would need to be replaced multiple times before the first replacement of a lithium-ion battery. That’s significant when you consider the greatest cost and nuisance factor associated with UPS batteries is replacement. Over a ten year life span, lithium-ion batteries allow up to 40 percent savings in CAPEX compared to VRLA ones.
"By delivering UPS systems with extensively tested lithium-ion batteries from partners, Vertiv expands an already broad portfolio of data centre power solutions,” said Rhonda Ascierto, research director for the Datacenter Technologies and Eco-Efficient IT Channel at 451 Research. “The combination makes it possible for firms to implement this increasingly cost-efficient technology in UPS installations, providing them with reliable performance and protection over a far longer time period than traditional lead-acid batteries, and helping to protect critical data centre operations.”
This latest update to the Vertiv portfolio shows further commitment in addressing diverse needs for quality, functionality and performance value, as recognized by the Frost & Sullivan Awards 2017.
For more information on lithium-ion batteries and Liebert UPS systems from Vertiv, visit www.VertivCo.com/Lithium-Ion.
About Vertiv
Vertiv designs, builds and services critical infrastructure that enables vital applications for data centers, communication networks and commercial and industrial facilities. Formerly Emerson Network Power, Vertiv supports today’s growing mobile and cloud computing markets with a portfolio of power, thermal and infrastructure management solutions including the ASCO®, Chloride®, Liebert®, NetSure™ and Trellis™ brands. Sales in fiscal 2016 were $4.4 billion. For more information, visit VertivCo.com.
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Ben Fletcher
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E ben.fletcher@fhflondon.co.uk
