Unnecessary over-configuration
For example, an uninterruptible power supply ( UPS ) is required to provide 15 minutes of backup time. However, few people know that this requirement originates from the 1952 IBM 701 series mainframe specification. This series of mainframes stipulated that the mainframe required 15 minutes to shut down normally. In this case, the backup generator typically wouldn’t start. Based on this, most data center RFPs require a 15-minute backup power guarantee, even in medium and large data centers where backup generators only require a five- to eight-second startup time; a backup power supply exceeding 30 seconds is completely unnecessary.
Numerous similar examples exist, directly leading to wasted data centers. The data center industry refers to this as “over-provisioning.”
Over the past 10-15 years, thousands of inventions have led to tremendous efficiency gains. However, the presence of a large number of risk-averse individuals who refuse to question has resulted in only incremental increases in efficiency across the industry.
The most forward-thinking innovations in the data center industry are transforming traditional deployment paradigms by introducing standardized, modular designs to support modern lean manufacturing systems and improve energy efficiency. These new players in a crowded market are enabling data center operators to bring services to market faster and successfully capture some of the fastest-growing segments of their businesses. Data center design and deployment should not be about sticking to old ways, but about lean and rapid service delivery, greater manageability, and avoiding duplication. Fresh, forward-thinking data center design approaches will reduce waste in critical infrastructure. Active Power, a leader in this direction, is a prime example of innovation. They are boldly changing power delivery times to 15 minutes or more, replacing chemical energy storage with mechanical energy storage. If the data center system uses a 1N system (single-path power supply, no redundancy), a flywheel UPS can maintain standby for 15 seconds under full load. A 1N+1 system (single-path power supply, N+1 redundancy) has a full-load operating time of 17-30 seconds. A 2N system (dual-path power supply, each without redundancy) has a full-load operating time of 30 seconds, while a 2(N+1) system (dual-path power supply, each with N+1 redundancy) has a full-load operating time of 35-60 seconds. A simple energy-saving analysis, assuming a 50% load rate, shows that the flywheel UPS has a power efficiency of 96%, while a traditional UPS has 90%. For 10 units, using a flywheel UPS saves $300,000 on air conditioning, $700,000 on electricity, and $100,000 on maintenance costs. Traditional UPS batteries require replacement, costing $300,000. This is a conservative calculation; generally, batteries need to be replaced every four years, but in reality, they are replaced every two to three years. Based on this calculation, there is an annual energy-saving benefit of over 1 million yuan, including savings on electricity bills and battery revenue. From an economic perspective, flywheel UPS has significant advantages, providing users with substantial returns.