Data centers without diesel generators: The groundwork is being laid (Andy Lawrence)

Overview

The article appeared in the Uptime Institute Journal in 2019. It reviews four routes: fuel cells and colocated continuous local generation, battery-backed edge sites, cloud-level resiliency, and Li-ion storage used actively with load shedding.

The introduction recalls that Microsoft announced in 2012 it would eliminate generators at Quincy, Oregon, yet later sought permission for 72 diesel generators. Fuel cells (Bloom, Doosan, SOLIDPower) are the main on-site continuous alternative but cost more per kWh and prefer steady loads; a Connecticut campus planned 20 MW of Doosan fuel cells.

For small edge sites (about 250 kW), a container-sized 500 kWh Li-ion battery could provide UPS functions and several hours of ride-through. Li-ion battery cost per kWh fell about 85% from 2010 to 2018 (BloombergNEF). Load shifting and shutting applications by criticality can extend UPS ride-through so generators start later or are reduced.

The article concludes that generators remain essential for medium and large sites, but projects with less generator cover will grow. The related source is the Uptime Institute Tier Standard: Topology.

Key points

1. Microsoft announced in 2012 it would eliminate generators at Quincy, Oregon, yet later sought permission for 72 diesel generators.
2. Fuel cells are the main on-site continuous alternative but cost more per kWh and prefer steady loads; a Connecticut campus planned 20 MW of Doosan fuel cells.
3. For small edge sites (about 250 kW), a container-sized 500 kWh Li-ion battery could provide UPS functions and several hours of ride-through.
4. Li-ion battery cost per kWh fell about 85% from 2010 to 2018 (BloombergNEF).
5. Load shifting and shutting applications by criticality can extend UPS ride-through so generators start later or are reduced.
6. Four routes: fuel cells, battery-backed edge, cloud-level resiliency, Li-ion with load shedding.
7. Generators remain essential for medium and large sites.

Using it in design

• Support generator-less or reduced-generator options in the design wizard (fuel cell, long-duration BESS) with explicit autonomy-hours calculation and load-shed tiers.
• Warn that eliminating gensets for medium/large Tier III+ sites removes the only source Tier treats as reliable.
• When choosing fuel cells, weigh cost per kWh and the preference for steady loads.

Who should read it

Electrical designers and operators evaluating generator reduction or alternative backup power.

Related standards

• Uptime Institute Tier Standard: Topology

Publication details

Authors

Andy Lawrence

Publisher

Uptime Institute Journal

Year

2019

Document language

English

Source type

Industry body

Access

Free to read

Licence

Copyright retained; citation only — the publisher’s terms apply to the original document

Citation