Energy losses
UPS run 24/7. They always lose some energy. The less efficient, the more energy is lost. The best way to reduce CO2 is by reducing energy use.
UPS – the first aid for power failure
Johanna Flood
Servers are a bit picky. They need steady, clean electricity to work properly. All the time. That’s where a UPS comes in.
Before electricity reaches the servers, it passes through the UPS, which smooths things out and keeps the power stable. UPS stands for Uninterruptible Power Supply. Three letters. Three main functions.
You can think of a UPS as three things in one: a battery, a power “cleaner,” and a control system. A bit like a Kinder egg.
It also acts as a safety net. If the main power suddenly fails, the UPS jumps in instantly and keeps everything running before the backup generators start up after a few seconds or so. The servers don’t even notice that anything happened.
So, UPS are great first aid for servers. But the environmental and social impact from them is not necessarily so great.
UPS and their sustainability risks
Around 70–90% of the total weight comes from the batteries. The rest is made up of cabinets, power electronics, switches, and control systems. Let's take a look at potential environmental and human rights risks with UPS.
Batteries - lead or litium
There are two main types of batteries you will find i data center UPS.
Lead-acid batteries contain hazardous materials like lead and acid, which must be handled carefully. They have a short lifespan but are highly recyclable. Many older data centers still use them.
Lithium-ion batteries are the other type of batteries. Typically, they have higher efficiency than the lead batteries and they need less space. They have a longer life span than lead-acid batteries and they are usually less harmful to handle. However, there are known environmental and human rights risks in the supply chain from mining lithium. There are also risks if the lithium batteries catch fire, they burn extremely well and release toxic gases. Recycling is more complex and less developed than for lead-acid batteries
Oversized - materials for nothing
UPS systems are often oversized, which leads to unnecessary material use and lower efficiency.
Material footprint from UPS
UPS systems use large amounts of metals like steel, copper, and aluminum, which have significant environmental impact from mining and production
The production of batteries and electronics can also involve risks to worker health and safety, especially in mining and manufacturing. There are also harmful chemicals involved in manufacturing of power electronics which are a part of the UPS.
Best practice for UPS
9 questions to ask your UPS suppliers
Serious sustainability?
Ensure that you purchase UPS systems from suppliers with high sustainability standards.
Schneider Electric has won prizes for their sustainability work and have EPSs showing the environmental performance of many of their products.
ABB is another player known for their high efficiency. You can’t find the perfect supplier, but you can push your suppliers to improve.
Ask them this:
Where is the UPS you want to buy manufactured and assembled?
Depending on where, the risks will differ.
Do your suppliers know the environmental performance?
Environmental product declarations, or EPDs are standardized life cycle assessments (LCAs) which tell you the environmental impact of products.
Ask them this:
What is the embedded carbon for the product? Can they provide an EPD or an LCA to prove that?
Depending on where the products and their materials are produced, the environmental impact will be different.
Handle the heat?
Can the UPS handle higher temperatures? If yes, you may need less cooling in the data center—which saves energy.
Ask them this:
What is the optimal operating temperature range for the UPS, and how does temperature affect its efficiency and lifespan?
Look for low losses!
There are also energy losses from the UPS – the lower the better from an energy standpoint
Ask them this:
Ask about the energy efficiency – lower losses mean lower emissions.
Does the UPS design support higher operating temperatures? This can help the whole system reduce energy waste.
Closed loop chemical use?
Power electronics rely on silicon-based semiconductors, and the manufacturing process uses a lot of chemicals.
Ask them this:
Do they know if the chemicals are recycled and used in closed loop systems over and over again in the factory.
Better batteries.
Even if you buy lithium-ion batteries, they will need to be replaced.
Ask them this:
Can the batteries be recycled?
How much of the battery is actually recovered? Is this proven or just claimed?
Can the supplier trace the origin of the materials?
Ask for batteries complying with the EU EU Batteries Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, even if you are outside of the EU.