APC UPS, Data Center

Future Data Center UPS Demand ( Part 9)

Opportunities and Challenges in the UPS Industry

Traditional data centers are facing transformation. Many enterprises currently have data centers built to 1990s standards, which fail to meet the needs of business development in terms of system reliability, energy management, and cooling systems, leading to high energy consumption and operating costs. Many data center operators and owners are now planning or implementing upgrades and renovations. With the expansion and migration of numerous data centers, the demand for UPS systems will increase. This is undoubtedly good news for the UPS industry.

But traditional UPS manufacturers shouldn’t be too happy yet. Meanwhile, an even more disruptive challenge comes from internet giants. Compared to traditional enterprise data centers, the internet industry is developing rapidly, and its demand for data centers is more urgent. Internet companies often deploy data centers on a large scale through self-construction, leasing, or joint construction. Because they are not burdened by outdated equipment, they are more willing to adopt the most advanced technologies. In China, Tencent achieves batch deployment and rapid construction through micro-module data centers, while its power supply system adopts a modular design of HVDC to eliminate reliance on traditional UPS systems. At Baidu, IT engineers even use a combination of direct mains power supply and UPS backup—a method traditional data centers dare not attempt—to power servers. Overseas, Google’s approach is even more radical; they have abandoned traditional power supply systems and instead use new custom servers with built-in batteries to reduce reliance on traditional UPS systems. In pursuit of efficiency, flexibility, on-demand deployment, and rapid expansion, engineers at internet companies are going to great lengths.

I believe the arrival of the big data era will inevitably change the world, and the UPS industry is no exception. Only manufacturers that bravely face the challenges, strengthen technological innovation, and integrate the latest ICT technologies will remain invincible in the future. In this whirlwind of big data and cloud computing, UPS partners, are you ready?