Energy savings potential of uninterruptible power supplies in European Union

Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) are key components of information and communications technologies (ICT) systems, ensuring reliability by maintaining the continuity and quality of the systems’ power supply. The energy consumption of UPS should be an important consideration due to its high impact...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Energy efficiency 2016-10, Vol.9 (5), p.993-1013
Main Authors: Moura, Pedro, Nuttall, Chris, Harrison, Bob, Jehle, Christoph, de Almeida, Aníbal
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Batteries
Cost control
Data processing
Economics and Management
Energy
Energy conservation
Energy consumption
Energy Efficiency
Energy Policy
Energy storage
Environment
Environmental Economics
Environmental performance
Information technology
Infrastructure
Labeling
Original Article
Power supply
Renewable and Green Energy
Small business
Studies
Sustainable design
Sustainable Development
Technology adoption
Uninterruptible power supply
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Description
Summary:Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) are key components of information and communications technologies (ICT) systems, ensuring reliability by maintaining the continuity and quality of the systems’ power supply. The energy consumption of UPS should be an important consideration due to its high impact on the lifecycle costs, but in most applications of UPS, energy efficiency is not the most important issue, since the operational reliability of the ICT systems and the related security of data processing and storage are the major concerns. However, the conversion efficiency of UPS systems has been improving in recent years and high energy savings can be achieved with the adoption of new technologies without a reduction of the reliability levels. The Ecodesign Preparatory Study for UPS (Lot 27) aimed to identify and recommend ways to improve, at their design phase, the environmental performance of UPS in the European Union throughout their lifetime. This paper presents the work developed during the Preparatory Study for UPS focused on the technical analysis of the best available and not yet available technologies, as well as the potential energy savings that can be achieved. Several technologies were considered at component and product level. The main design options were then modelled, and the potential energy savings achievable with policy options focused on minimum efficiency performance standards and energy labelling were assessed, showing a potential for energy savings in European Union in 2025 of 11.4 TWh (65 % energy saving relative to predicted energy requirement of EU ICT system UPS based on current practice).
ISSN:1570-646X
1570-6478
DOI:10.1007/s12053-015-9406-7