In the age of big data, data centers and industrial applications always need to be up and running to service the most demanding operations in the country’s growing industries (e.g. telecoms, BPO, semi-conductor, and healthcare sectors). Even one minute of downtime could lead to losses worth hundreds of thousands of pesos, hence the need for critical power systems support for data centers.
Critical power systems are even more relevant for companies operating in the Philippines, whose operations are vulnerable to power outages and fluctuations. Aside from the country’s problems in energy production and distribution, the Philippines is often struck by super typhoons and earthquakes that could lead to power interruptions.
Amid all these it is a necessity for data centers to have an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) to ensure round-the-clock operations and business continuity.
Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management, recently unveiled the new Galaxy VM, a new three-phase UPS that provides power protection as well as maximum energy efficiency.
“Data Centers are especially vulnerable here in the Philippines because of the increased possibility of fluctuations and outages,” said Doy Santos, Country IT Business Unit Head of Schneider Electric Philippines. “Schneider Electric’s extensive experience in reliable power protection design is ingrained and culminated in the Galaxy VM. It solves major concerns in the IT area by ensuring uninterrupted and efficient power, as well as reducing energy consumption and its related costs,” he enthused.
“Throughout Schneider Electric’s 45 year tenure in the power protection industry, it has continued to develop and evolve its technologies and applied all of that expertise to the Galaxy VM,” Santos continues to say. “Aside from designing and implementing high-tech energy management technologies for the [Galaxy VM], we also made sure that will be easy to install and maintain,” he continued.
The Galaxy VM UPS uses innovative, patent pending power topology that improves reliability by reducing stress on active components. Additionally, the Galaxy VM reduces energy costs through its innovative 99 percent efficiency ECOnversion™ mode, which comes with input harmonic correction while combining the advantages of double conversion on-line and advanced ECO mode technologies to operate at the greatest efficiency without putting data center and non-data center critical loads at risk. This is particularly important as data center operators and managers as well as critical facilities managers must balance the need for optimal energy efficiency with maximum uptime and availability.
Additionally, the Galaxy VM offers flexible energy storage solutions with swappable modular battery modules and fans that can be replaced without the need to go through maintenance bypass, thus increasing availability and load protection.
Designed to integrate into existing electrical, physical and monitoring environments, Galaxy VM works with Schneider Electric’s StruxureWare® data center infrastructure management (DCIM) software applications, building management systems (BMS) and Modbus protocol.
The Galaxy VM is also designed in full compliance to international seismic standards of the International Building Code of 2012 and the California Building Code of 2013, which means that the UPS will continue to work before and after shocks.
Aside from the technical features of the system, Santos also highlighted the financial advantages that the system can provide to businesses. “We can talk all day about the technical specifications of the product, but we do understand that businesses are more interested about its impact to the bottomline, especially with our country having one of the highest electricity rates in Asia,” Santos said. “With up to 99% efficiency of the Galaxy VM, this translates to bigger savings in electrical and installation costs. It also provides reliable uninterrupted power that ensures your operations will not suffer from outages that will lead to financial and reputational losses,” he concluded.
According to Santos, the system has a projected two-to-three year return on investment if the power rates don’t fluctuate too wildly from the average cost of PhP10 per kilowatt hour.
Guide Questions for Schneider Electric: Galaxy VM
- Which specific industries in the Philippines will benefit most from the Galaxy VM?
It serves all industries, and today, highly relevant for:- Data Centers
- Telecoms
- BPO
- Semi-conductor
- Healthcare
- You mentioned about the potential losses that these industries could incur from power outages, how much do they actually lose?
According to studies, one minute of downtime will cost more than hundred thousand pesos. In a country wherein power outages could last for more than an hour, those costs could easily go up to the millions. Aside from the financial costs, the damage to the reputation of the company is potentially irreparable.
- In case of a power outage, how long can the Galaxy VM provide back-up power to an average sized data center?
Depending on the load requirements per business, its back-up time is between 15 minutes up to two hours (or longer depending on number of batteries.)
- How much room does a standard set up of the Galaxy VM require?
Less than 1 sq m minimum space
- With the sprouting of many newly established business districts, most BPO and IT industries right now are constantly transferring operations, how easy is it to move the Galaxy VM around? Does Schneider Electric assist in migration if needed?
Galaxy VM has removable I/O cabinets and caster wheels thus transferring the UPS around is easier. Schneider Electric can assist in migration with the help of our certified Field Service Engineers.
- You mentioned the seismic readiness of the system and how it is compliant with international seismic standards, how strong of an earthquake can the Galaxy VM withstand?
The Galaxy VM meets full compliance to international seismic standards of the International Building Code of 2012 and the California Building Code of 2013 (This is chosen since this is where the San Andreas fault is located.) The all-steel enclosures meet IBC Zone 2 seismic rating, which means that within typical buildings, the Galaxy VM would function before and after seismic activity.
- How well does it integrate with existing power management systems? What about those that are not from Schneider Electric?
Designed to integrate into existing electrical, physical and monitoring environments, Galaxy VM works with Schneider Electric’s StruxureWare® data center infrastructure management (DCIM) software applications, building management systems (BMS) and Modbus protocol
- How different is the Galaxy VM from other UPS systems?
Firstly, it is definitely the best of its class when it comes to efficiency and mobility. In typical double conversion mode, the Galaxy VM can operate up to 96.5% efficiency. But once it enters ECOnversion mode, that efficiency goes up to 99% even at low load levels. It also has a best-in-class footprint—it’s highly compact, saves a lot of space, and can be easily moved.
- The UPS brand APC is now under Schneider Electric, how much of APC’s technology was used to bolster the Galaxy VM system?
APC by Schneider Electric is known to be the leading UPS system for retail and businesses. The Galaxy VM is the solely under the Schneider Electric brand which combines the strengths of APC for UPS and Schneider Electric for power management and energy efficiency.
- Up to how much savings can the Galaxy VM provide?
Galaxy VM reduces energy costs through its innovative 99 percent efficiency ECOnversion™ mode, which comes with input harmonic correction while combining the advantages of double conversion on-line and advanced ECO mode technologies to operate at the greatest efficiency without putting data center and non data center critical loads at risk.
For more information about the Galaxy VM, please visit the Power Management Systems product website (http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=483) and Schneider Electric TV (http://tv.schneider-electric.com/site/schneidertv/index.cfm?chnl=Data%20Center&vidType=Product%20Showcase&args=jp/en) for product showcase videos.
About Schneider Electric
As a global specialist in energy management and automation with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in Non-residential & Residential Buildings, Industries & Machines Manufacturers, Utilities & Infrastructure and Data Centers & Networks. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the Group’s 170,000 employees achieved revenues of 25 billion euros in 2014, through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations make the most of their energy.
