Download Modular Power vs. Economies of Scale: Does the TCO live up to the

Modular Power vs. Economies of Scale:
Does the TCO live up to the Buzzwords? (Subtitle under discussion)
Presentation by Bill Mazzetti and John Sears
Introduction (John)
Last year, my co-presenter gave an excellent talk on modular data centers: actual project data for schedules and
costs, plus examples of real-world pitfalls. What made Bill’s analysis manageable was the common denominator
of all the modular data centers: the generic x86 server. Each modular data center is packaged with a certain
number of servers capable of doing a predictable amount of work.
The exercise is trickier when the subject is modular backup power. There is no physical device (like the x86
server) to serve as a common denominator. Instead systems are rated by the power capacity of each system in
kilowatts or megawatts. And there are vast differences in how the different manufacturer package components,
so there are significant differences in how these packages scale up to the Multi-Megawatt range.
Characteristics of Modular Data Centers and Modular Power Systems (Bill)
General common factors:
Functionality:
 Pre-assembled group of components
 Standard designs
Factory:
 Trade on-site labor for factory labor
 Factory labor experienced in standard designs
 Preassembled, pretested as subsystem
Hoped for advantages:
 Efficiency (cool the equipment, not the building)
 Shortened overall schedule
 Consistent quality
 Common features/maintenance between packages and between sites.
Observed differences in costs and schedules:
 Project A
 Project B
Road map of Modular Power Systems (John)
General Types:
 One-box solutions (single-phase)
 Plug-in UPS and Battery Boxes (single-phase and small three-phase)
 Packaged UPS + switchgear boxes (medium-to-large three-phase)
 Packaged UPS + genset (large three-phase)
Easy Choices:
 Up to 10 kW
 Up to 100 kW
 Up to 225 kW
Grey Areas, bigger systems:
 Up to 1000 kW
 Up to 2000 kW
 5000 kW and larger
Key Decisions:
 Optimum module size?
 Packaged power module or stand-alone machines?
 Static or Rotary UPS? (Will mention but won’t touch this subject in this presentation)
 Low-Voltage or Medium-Voltage system?
Example Packages, Larger Power Modules:
 UPS + controls + switchgear, to 500 kW
 UPS + controls + diesel, 500-1000 kW
 UPS + controls + diesel, 1200-2900 kW
 Footprint and component comparison
Business Case and Costs of Modular Power Systems (Bill)
Installation costs, various configurations:
 2 MW, conventional components
 2 MW, modular power, 500 kW blocks
 2 MW, modular power, 1000 kW blocks
 5 MW, conventional components (Low Voltage)
 5 MW, modular power, 500 kW blocks (Low Voltage)
 5 MW, modular power, 1000 kW blocks (Low Voltage)
 5 MW, modular power, 2000 kW blocks (Low Voltage and Medium Voltage)
 10 MW, conventional components (Low Voltage)
 10 MW, modular power, 1000 kW blocks (Low Voltage)
 10 MW, modular power, 2000 kW blocks (Low Voltage and Medium Voltage)
 10 MW, modular power, 2900 kW blocks (Medium Voltage)
Insight: Cost of copper cable and installation
 5 MW, conventional components
 5 MW, modular, Low Voltage vs. Medium Voltage
 10 MW, conventional components
 10 MW, modular, Low Voltage vs. Medium Voltage
Summary (Bill and John)
 Similar advantages, modular data centers and modular power systems
 Tradeoffs:
o Factory vs on-site labor
o Concurrent tasks
 Essential to choose proper building block (capture economies of scale)
 Consider installation costs: larger building blocks simplify the project
 4-Dimensional Vision:
o Design a realistic Day One configuration, BUT…
o Estimate TCO at key build-out phases
o Estimate TCO for eventual system size.
Questions?