随着数据中心面临越来越大的脱碳压力，运营方需要从UPS选型、发展UPS智能化技术、综合比选各类蓄电池、提升技术人员电池维保技术等多方面进行基础设施的整体评估和优化，尝试在可持续性和应用服务可用率之间协调发展，以满足数据中心可持续发展的目标。

　　新型不间断电源(UPS)通常采用锂离子(Li+)电池，锂电在汽车和计算机领域都已得到了广泛应用。锂电技术带来的更好的可持续性发展，可以减轻数据中心运营方来自环保方面的压力。目前，围绕锂电池的可持续发展前景尚不明朗，全球的锂矿开采和锂电池制造仍然有非常大的挑战。

　　New uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) are often based on lithium-ion (Li+) battery technology that is becoming widespread in everything from cars to computers. This often comes with a claim of greater sustainability that could help relieve the pressure on operators for greener datacentres.Yet the sustainability picture around Li+ batteries is unclear, with global challenges around mining and manufacture still unresolved.

　　然而，伊顿EMEA(欧洲、中东和非洲)业务部门关键电力系统技术经理帕纳宁表示，运营方需要从整体上看待影响电力管理的所有问题，“更明智地思考”UPS的作用，而不是购买最环保或最高效的UPS。

　　However, Janne Paananen, critical power systems technology manager at Eaton EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa), says operators need to take a holistic view of all issues affecting power management, “thinking smarter” about the role of UPS rather than buying the greenest or most efficient.

　　相反，他建议运营方需要开始更明智地利用现有资产，减少总体消耗，同时节约成本和环境资源。

　　Instead, Paananen suggests operators need to start making smarter use of existing assets, reducing overall consumption to save costs and environmental resources at the same time.

　　Paananen说：“你不需要孤立和局限地思考这个问题，应该整体地考量电气设备系统和所有相关联的设备，以及它们如何更好地发挥作用。”

　　“When you are not thinking in silos anymore, that means you don’t need to make separate purpose-built systems for everything,” says Paananen. “Think about the whole electrical equipment system at once – everything that is connected, how it can contribute.”

　　伊顿EMEA的数据中心和IT部门经理Forde也同意这个观点，并指出供应商通常会开发具有多种常见特点的可持续导向产品，并评估这些基础设施怎样真正去推动可持续发展，”他说。

　　Ciarán Forde, datacentre and IT segment manager at Eaton EMEA, agrees, noting that suppliers often develop sustainably orientated products with multiple commonplace elements. “Ask what that infrastructure can do to really move the needle on sustainability,” he says.

　　Forde补充道，核心问题是目前的大部分电力仍然是通过石油和燃煤发电厂产生的。一个依靠化石燃料发电的数据中心可以最大限度地提高效率，却无法推进其运营方或用户的可持续发展。

　　The core issue is that electricity is still primarily generated via oil and coal-fired plants, adds Forde. A datacentre reliant on fossil fuels for power can be maximally efficient while still not advancing the sustainability agenda of its operator or the users that depend on it.

　　当然，UPS在停电时，可确保应用程序和工作负载的恢复能力，减少出现问题时中断的次数。Forde建议，将UPS当作是一个关键点，就可实现更多的可持续性。

　　Of course, the UPS reduces the chance of disruption when problems arise by delivering breathing space to ramp up on-site backup generation, securing resilience of applications and workloads. However, more sustainability can be achieved, Forde suggests, by understanding UPS as a focal point.