Singapore – September 2024 – A major global cloud provider has achieved 99.99% power uptime for its Singapore data center after deploying ABB’s GFD563A101 3BHE046836R0101 power modules in its UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) systems. The upgrade, finished in July 2024, resolved the center’s recurring power fluctuations—an issue that caused 4 service disruptions in 2023, each costing the company $120,000 in client compensation and reputation damage.
The Crisis: Power Fluctuations Threatened Client Trust
Singapore’s tropical climate and high electricity demand make power stability a constant challenge for data centers. The cloud provider’s facility, which serves 500+ enterprise clients (including banks and tech firms), relied on legacy UPS modules that struggled to handle:
- Grid Voltage Spikes: Singapore’s power grid occasionally experiences 10–15% voltage surges during peak hours, which the old modules failed to regulate, leading to server brownouts.
- Heat-Related Failures: The data center’s dense server racks generate intense heat, and the old modules’ 85% efficiency rating meant they added to the thermal load—causing 3 overheating failures in 2023.
“Our clients trust us with mission-critical data—even a 10-minute outage is unacceptable,” said Priya Rajan, the data center’s operations manager. “After the fourth disruption last year, we knew we needed a UPS upgrade that could handle Singapore’s grid challenges and our facility’s heat.”
The provider tested 5 UPS module options before selecting the ABB GFD563A101 3BHE046836R0101 for its unique combination of stability and efficiency.
The GFD563A101’s design addresses the specific needs of data center UPS systems, with features that set it apart:
- Voltage Regulation Precision: The module maintains output voltage within ±0.5% of the target, even during grid surges or dips—far stricter than the old modules’ ±2% tolerance. This ensures servers receive consistent power, preventing brownouts.
- High Efficiency at Partial Loads: Unlike most UPS modules, which lose efficiency when operating below 50% load, the GFD563A101 retains 96.5% efficiency even at 30% load—critical for data centers, which rarely run at full capacity.
- Thermal Management: Its advanced heat sink design and silent fan system reduce heat output by 40% compared to the old modules, easing the data center’s cooling burden and lowering HVAC costs.
- Hot-Swappable Design: The GFD563A101 can be replaced without shutting down the UPS system, eliminating the need for downtime during maintenance—a key requirement for 24/7 data centers.
“We installed 12 GFD563A101 modules in our main UPS bank over a weekend,” Rajan said. “ABB’s team trained our technicians on hot-swapping, so we can now replace a module in 15 minutes without affecting clients.”
Results: 99.99% Uptime and Lower Costs
Since deployment, the data center has seen dramatic improvements:
- 99.99% Power Uptime: Zero disruptions in two months, translating to just 4.38 hours of potential downtime annually—well above the client’s 99.9% SLA requirement.
- 18% Lower HVAC Costs: The module’s reduced heat output cut the data center’s monthly cooling bill by $16,000.
- Faster Maintenance: Hot-swapping and diagnostic alerts have reduced UPS maintenance time by 60%, freeing up engineers to focus on other critical tasks.
“Our clients have noticed the difference—we’ve had zero compensation claims since the upgrade,” Rajan added. “One bank client even expanded their contract because they were impressed with our improved reliability.”
Tan Wei Ling, ABB’s data center solutions director for Asia, emphasized the GFD563A101’s relevance in the region. “Singapore’s data centers face unique grid and climate challenges,” she said. “The GFD563A101 3BHE046836R0101 is engineered to tackle those—this project proves it can deliver the uptime and efficiency modern data centers need.”
The cloud provider plans to roll out the GFD563A101 to its Hong Kong and Tokyo data centers in 2025, aiming for company-wide 99.99% UPS uptime.
