Battery energy storage systems (BESSs) and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems were once viewed purely as insurance against outages and poor power quality, but they are now being deployed as active tools for energy management, says critical power and data centre solutions provider Master Power Technologies (MPT) data centres head Rory Reid.

This evolution is being driven by changing business requirements and tender specifications, with customers more frequently wanting to improve efficiency and reduce costs over the life of a facility, rather than simply “keeping the lights on”.

Further, dedicated BESSs are now supporting solar integration, peak shaving and energy-cost optimisation, while UPS systems remain focused on maintaining uninterrupted power to critical loads.

"Batteries are, therefore, increasingly viewed as strategic energy assets, rather than simply backup equipment," says Reid.

Additionally, traditional UPS equipment, BESSs, generators and renewable sources must be designed and tested as a single system against intended operating requirements. Intelligent control and monitoring are essential to verify reliability and efficiency.

The change in technology is matched by a change in procurement behaviour.

Reid notes that businesses are moving away from buying individual components – such as UPS systems, distribution boards, generators and batteries – and towards an integrated power solution.

Moreover, efficiency, operating costs, real-time monitoring and proactive maintenance are becoming central, alongside life-cycle management and total cost of ownership (TCOO), as the focus is moving from reactive failure response to prevention.

Customers are also increasingly identifying partners that can design, build, monitor and maintain infrastructure under comprehensive service-level agreements.

MPT has responded to this need with its Advanced Infrastructure Visual Analytics (AIVA) platform, integrated with a 24/7 network operations centre, consequently allowing for continuous monitoring, early identification of developing problems and proactive intervention.

Battery Technology Selection

The comparison between lithium-ion (Li-ion) and valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) can be “contentious”, but Li-ion batteries generally offer higher energy density, longer service life and greater cycle life, depending on chemistry and the application with integrated battery management. VRLA retains relevance owing to lower initial capital cost and an established track record, Reid elaborates.

"TCOO should account for battery replacement, cooling, maintenance, fire protection and insurance, rather than focusing only on the initial purchase price."

He cautions that fire safety is an important consideration, citing insurance requirements that must be addressed during the design stage when selecting battery technology. Li-ion presents thermal-runaway and fire-propagation risks, while VRLA carries different hazards, including hydrogen generation. Therefore, insurers may require additional detection, protection, separation or containment solutions, materially affecting installed cost.

Monitoring is also significant, as customers place greater value on preventative maintenance, he notes. Battery monitoring systems track voltage, temperature, current and internal resistance, while battery management system data helps to assess overall condition and identify deterioration before failure.

Reid stresses that monitoring must extend to UPS, generators, cooling and electrical distribution, as these components work interdependently. Collecting data is insufficient – the value lies in analysing trends and acting on the provided information.

“For example, batteries of a similar age that are operating in the same environment would generally be expected to show broadly comparable trends in internal resistance – where measured – and temperature. Significant deviations in an individual battery’s voltage or temperature may indicate a developing problem that warrants investigation and early intervention.”

Resilience also requires electrical and mechanical systems to work together, says Reid, as maintaining supply is not enough if cooling fails. Where solar and BESSs are added for economic benefit, they must be integrated without compromising resilience while allowing for higher power densities, intelligent monitoring and future expansion.

Further, integrated systems, tested under the relevant failure conditions, are essential to ensure equipment operates as intended and critical loads remain supported.

Reid expects energy production across Africa to move increasingly towards greener solutions, with BESS becoming more common for not only customers but also utilities stabilising grids amid increasing wind and solar penetration.