Lithium-ion batteries can reduce replacement frequency, footprint and Total Cost of Ownership

Columbus, Ohio [Feb. 7, 2017] – Vertiv™, formerly Emerson Network Power, today announced the availability of new energy storage solutions for several of its Liebert® Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems, using lithium-ion batteries from proven suppliers. Lithium-ion batteries designed specifically for UPS applications are smaller, lighter and last longer than traditional valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries, presenting an alternative for organizations seeking to leverage the benefits offered by these advanced battery technologies.

Available now in the Americas, the lithium-ion solutions are fully tested, UL listed and compatible with the Liebert NXL, Liebert EXL, Liebert NX 225-600 kVA and Liebert Series 610 UPS systems.

"While mainstream use of lithium-ion batteries is relatively new to the data center, we have been engineering UPS solutions with lithium-ion battery backup for customers for some time," said Peter Panfil, vice president of global power for Vertiv. "By offering lithium-ion configurations from multiple suppliers, we are providing a broad spectrum of battery technologies that have been vigorously tested for safety and performance in multiple applications and environments."

Lithium-ion batteries have been commonplace in consumer electronics for decades, providing compact, lightweight, long-lasting energy storage for cell phones, laptops and tablets. More recently, those same characteristics have driven expanded applications of the technology in cars, airplanes and, increasingly, data centers.

The benefits are substantial. Lithium-ion batteries are considerably smaller and lighter than VRLA counterparts, significantly reducing the footprint of the battery cabinets and in some cases enabling in-row battery storage. Additionally, some lithium-ion batteries can function at higher operating temperatures than VRLA, which can reduce battery cooling costs – in some cases, by as much as 70 percent.

Perhaps most importantly, depending on chemistry and utilization, lithium-ion batteries can last as much as four times as long as VRLA, and routinely last two to three times as long. In most cases, VRLA batteries would need to be replaced multiple times before the first replacement of a lithium-ion battery. That’s significant when you consider the greatest cost and nuisance factor associated with UPS batteries is replacement.

Liebert UPS systems with lithium-ion batteries are available for new build, retrofit or modular construction. Vertiv deployed lithium-ion batteries with its UPS systems in a 2015 pilot project with Forsythe Data Centers – one of several innovative technologies utilized in Forsythe's Chicago-area Retail+™ facility.

"By delivering UPS systems with extensively tested lithium-ion batteries from partners, Vertiv expands an already broad portfolio of data center power solutions," said Rhonda Ascierto, research director for the Datacenter Technologies and Eco-Efficient IT Channel at 451 Research. "The combination makes it possible for firms to implement this increasingly cost-efficient technology in UPS installations, providing them with reliable performance and protection over a far longer time period than traditional lead-acid batteries, and helping to protect critical data center operations."

About Vertiv
Vertiv designs, builds and services critical infrastructure that enables vital applications for data centers, communication networks and commercial and industrial facilities. Formerly Emerson Network Power, Vertiv supports today’s growing mobile and cloud computing markets with a portfolio of power, thermal and infrastructure management solutions including the ASCO®, Chloride®, Liebert®, NetSure™ and Trellis™ brands. Sales in fiscal 2016 were $4.4 billion.