Outstanding UPS proves its agility

AGIL modular UPS helps Wallonie Data Center run with 100% uptime and 95% efficiency!

In this interview, Thomas Rulmont, Director of Opera-

tions at Wallonie Data Center (WDC), explains why
WDC implemented the AGIL modular UPS from CE+T
and the benefits it has delivered.

What was the situation before you implemented the

AGIL UPS?
In 2006, WDC acquired a data center built by in 1987
Cockerill (now part of the Arcelor-Mittal Group). What
we got was an ageing infrastructure: an old UPS system,
old chillers, old everything. The UPS’s were 5 years old
and really not efficient. They produced a lot of harmonics
and we also had problems with battery charging. Plus,
the maintenance costs were huge.
On top of all this, the two 100kVA UPS’s we took over
were too small for our needs. We had a 500m2 facility
and planned to grow. So, we needed a capacity of at
least 500kVA to start with.
“…we’ve enjoyed 100% up-
time. It’s been a great birth-
day present!”
When did you decide to replace the system?
We started looking for a new UPS system in 2007. We
contacted several big suppliers. Their offers were ok,
but not what we were really looking for. We wanted
total redundancy. And we wanted a modular UPS, say
three 160kVA modules for a total capacity of 450kVA.
Unfortunately, these suppliers only offered monolithic
systems.
CE+T Power Agil installation at the Wallonie Data Center
We were reaching our wit’s end when we had a chance
encounter with Olivier Bomboir, Sales Director at CE+T
Power. They were developing a new technology that
was modular and sounded promising. So even though
the product wasn’t ready yet, we decided to wait for it.
How long have you been running the AGIL modular
UPS?
We went live on 28 January 2010 which happens to be
my birthday. The changeover went very smoothly. We
first connected half the batteries to the new system
while keeping part of the old batteries on the old system.
Then we connected the remaining batteries to the new
system. Together with CE+T we conducted a lot of tests
before and after, but the actual changeover took only a
few seconds and the whole process took less than a day.
Moreover, since then we’ve enjoyed 100% uptime. It’s
been a great birthday present!

Construction Electronique + Communications S.A. (CE+T S.A.)  Rue du charbonnage 12  B-4020 Wandre  Belgium   +32 4 345 67 00   +32 4 345 67 01
Email: info@cet-power.com  www.cet-power.com  VAT : BE-404404480  RPM Liège - N° Enreg. Entrepreneur / Reg. Aannemer Nr. : 404.404.480/09.00.9.3
What are the benefits of the new system besides this
amazingly high uptime?
The biggest benefit to us is the system’s modularity.
In our business, uptime is crucial. Now, even if we lose
one or more modules inside one of the UPS’s, we can
continue to operate.
Another benefit is being able to plan and expand
capacity in increments. That’s really important in the
data center business.
cabling, circuit breakers and other power distribution
infrastructure. The installation itself was also easier
because of the system’s modularity.
How efficient is your new system?
Actually, that’s another big benefit. Our old system had
energy losses of 15-20%. For the new system, CE+T
Power guaranteed us a maximum loss of no more than
5% or in other words, efficiency of 95%. This is a huge
savings because now we don’t lose as much energy.
And the savings is magnified because the lower amount
of heat released means we also don’t need to cool the
facility as much either.
What about the latest versions of more traditional
UPS?
We did of course compare the Agil to current models
from the competition, and here again the TCO of CE+T
Power’s solution proved to be much lower n

200,0%
180,0%
CE+T Power Agil 20kVA module 160,0%
140,0% TCO CET

And modularity reduces maintenance costs, too. We 120,0% TCO XXX

100,0%
can do a lot of maintenance ourselves because the 80,0%

modules are hot pluggable. Over 7-8 years, this really 60,0%
40,0%
reduces the total cost of ownership. 20,0%
0,0%
The modular AGIL system matched our existing Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7 Y8 Y9 Y10 Source : WDC

infrastructure better, too. When we first installed

the system, we had already put in place a lot of WDC’s Total Cost of Ownership Analysis

Technical Aspects
Situated in the heart of Belgium in Villers-Le-Bouillet, Wallonie Data
Customer WDC
Center (WDC) is the ideal environment for hosting systems and
Product Line Agil operating an information management infrastructure under optimal
conditions. WDC offers dedicated as well as rack hosting, and business
Model Agil 160 continuity services
Modules power 20kVA http://www.waldc.be/
# Modules 12
# cabinets 2x3 CE+T Power is the world leader in AC backup technology. The company
Max. Output Power 480kVA develops, manufactures and markets Inverters, Modular UPS, Remote
Line Powering and Off Grid Powering solutions to the Telecom,
Footprint 1,44m² Industrial and Datacom/IT markets worldwide.
For more information please visit our website at
http://www.cet-power.com

Construction Electronique + Communications S.A. (CE+T S.A.)  Rue du charbonnage 12  B-4020 Wandre  Belgium   +32 4 345 67 00   +32 4 345 67 01
Email: info@cet-power.com  www.cet-power.com  VAT : BE-404404480  RPM Liège - N° Enreg. Entrepreneur / Reg. Aannemer Nr. : 404.404.480/09.00.9.3