Tiny improvements in the efficiency of power management could mean million dollar returns to data center operators, according to a new industry white paper which argues that many of today’s installed uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) could be profitably replaced.

The white paper, UPS Efficiency - Why Energy Efficiency Numbers Add Up, was issued by GE’s Critical Power business.

It examines the technologies, market issues, investment and possible returns on UPS multi-mode energy efficiency systems.

The conclusion is that moving from traditional double-conversion technology to a higher level of efficiency offered by multi-mode (or ‘eco-mode’) power conversion, which offer energy efficiencies of 98 to 99%, could save considerable sums.

A typical data center’s savings could be around the US$1m mark in lower energy costs over 10 years.

According to figures from independent analyst firm Frost & Sullivan, raising energy efficiency levels of UPS systems in data centers from 90 to 98% can save the US $3bn annually in energy costs.

However, GE’s product manager for global AC power systems at its critical power business Brad Trash said that even a 1% rise in efficiency justifies the expense of investing in new systems.

“Many UPS units still operate by converting alternating current to direct current, with a conversion rate of around 93% efficiency,” Thrash said.

“A small increase in efficiency from just 93 to 94% has the potential to yield up to $1.4m in energy costs over 10 years.”

The white paper investigates the design and engineering approaches for advanced power disturbance detection.

It argues that control and fast transfer switching technologies, that enable UPS multi-mode operation and energy efficiency, are the most easily attainable money saving gains in today’s data centers.

The conclusion of the white paper is that the total cost of ownership models that it has used exemplify how costs could be slashed.

“The models can demonstrate operating expense savings with just a few percentage points of improvement in UPS power conversion efficiency,” the report said.