A battery exists to store a specific amount of energy and then release it at the appropriate time, whether that is to provide a working flashlight while changing the tire on a dark road, or when you require an effective bridge to an auxiliary power source.

Many critical facility professionals have been underwhelmed by how their batteries have inconsistently performed. When asked, “Is there a need for an improved energy storage solution for your the data center infrastructure?” owners, users and managers invariably respond … YES.

For the critical data center professional, traditional lead-acid batteries paired with uninterruptible power systems have been the ‘go to’ source for providing brief ride-through time. Most of these same operators have witnessed the drawbacks to the lead-acid solution at one point or another. One alternative is to utilize lithium-ion batteries.

This paper examines that option and shares a real-world perspective to help data center designers decide if this technology is viable within their data center.