Keeping the Power on
Keeping the Power on
Why Generators are the Unsung Heroes of Mission-Critical Resilience
By Charles Hunsucker
President, Power Systems at Rehlko
Energy is the lifeblood of mission-critical facilities, including data centers, healthcare institutions, and utility plants. It ensures the lights stay on, equipment functions correctly, and vital services operate without interruption.
But what happens when the grid goes down? How do mission-critical facilities continue seamless operations when energy resiliency comes under threat?
The answer comes with the installation of dependable backup power – most frequently provided by generators. In the event of a grid outage, these proven solutions spring into action in seconds, providing the uninterrupted power supply necessary to keep mission-critical systems running.
Identifying the Three Pillars of Mission-Critical Power
Generators are therefore an essential component of energy resiliency. Yet the operators of data centers, healthcare institutions, and utility plants aren’t necessarily experts in generator technology—they are too busy concentrating on providing primary services to end users. That’s why these mission-critical organizations seek expert guidance from energy solution providers to keep their businesses running.
For this relationship to prosper, the energy solution provider must have skills and competencies in several areas.
People
They need a track record of technical experience to help customers make the best selection. Generators come in multiple options, including different sizes, fuel types, noise profiles, and enclosures. It requires in-house knowledge and expertise to match the specific needs and budget perfectly.
Products
Every mission-critical organization is different. The generator provider must, therefore, have the breadth of portfolio to meet the requirement. That means having generators that run on diesel, gas or renewable fuels, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), operational across various power nodes. In some instances, alternative technologies such as fuel cells might be a better option and need to be part of the product mix. The right solution for the right application provides unshakeable confidence that, whatever happens to the mains supply, power can be kept on and businesses afloat.
Passion
Generator adoption doesn’t stop at product selection. It requires a commitment to excellence over the long term. The generator manufacturer must, therefore, be willing to conduct ongoing research and development to ensure innovation that leads to continuous product improvement. That might be reflected in the development of more sustainable maintenance programs and the further adoption of cleaner fuels. It is about ensuring long-term operational support across the lifecycle and into the future.
Real-World Resilience: Success Stories from Across the Globe
With these three pillars in place, creating an energy-resilient world for a better future is possible. There have been many examples of this successful approach in practice across different mission-critical industries and regions.
Success Stories
Fort Hays State University
In academia, for example, the Fort Hays State University in Kansas, US, wanted to develop a more sustainable energy strategy, parallelling a variety of energy sources, including generators and wind turbines. The university worked with Rehlko to understand and define its options before selecting two highly efficient generator sets for modern peak shaving. Rehlko’s internal Power Solutions Team also played a significant role in updating the obsolete control equipment of existing generator paralleling switchgear, incorporating new programmable logic controllers and user-friendly human-machine interface control modules for ease of operation. The university believes that the generators will significantly enhance energy resiliency as part of its sustainability plan while helping to deliver several million dollars’ worth of energy cost savings and reduced lifecycle costs over the medium term.
Read More about Rehklo Power Systems and Fort Hays State University
Tong Luo Wastewater Treatment Plant
Meanwhile, in the wastewater industry, Rehlko has played a significant role in upgrading the Tong Luo Wastewater Treatment Plant in Taiwan. Working with contractor Lead-Go,Rehlko replaced two existing generators with a 2500kW low-emission generator and associated exhaust aftertreatment systems, which mitigated the release of nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and diesel particulate matter. The installation meant the wastewater plant had sufficient backup power to pump and purify 18,000 tons of wastewater with minimal environmental impact.
Read More about Rehlko Power Systems and Tong Luo Wastewater Treatment Plant
Digital Realty
Finally, in the dynamic data center sector, Rehlko has helped Digital Realty achieve the highest levels of sustainable power redundancy at its state-of-the-art PAR8 data center facility just north of Paris, France. With multiple backup generators installed on the roof, PAR8 can run for 72 hours at full capacity using HVO (Renewable Diesel). By adopting this renewable fuel, Digital Realty can reduce its carbon footprint for backup power by up to 90% across the lifecycle while ensuring the highest levels of energy resiliency for its operations.
Rehlko: We Keep Your Business Running
These projects show how partnering with the right energy solutions specialist can ensure success. Rehlko understands that energy is everything—it is the lifeblood of mission-critical applications. Without energy, everything can come to a halt.
We engineer, install and maintain the finest critical energy solutions through a tailored, end-to-end service. Our experience and dedication are measured in decades, and our generators offer world-leading power and reliability. And we are passionate about innovating to provide advances in sustainability and energy efficiency over the long term.
In short, Rehlko stands shoulder-to-shoulder with customers in mission-critical sectors. Whatever the requirement, we’re here to make you energy-resilient and to keep your business running.
