BESS for data centers: smart storage for electrical continuity

BESS for data centers is an advanced energy storage system that guarantees electrical continuity, autonomy, and operational efficiency. It allows you to manage when to store and release energy, reduce demand peaks, optimize costs, and complement traditional UPS with intelligent and prolonged backup. Its implementation improves resilience, sustainability, and integration with renewable energies in critical data centers.

Data centers are considered critical infrastructure because they operate 24 hours a day, processing and storing data (such as bank transactions, video calls, emails, web searches, among others) that drive the digital economy. All this real-time processing depends on one key factor: uninterrupted electrical power, and that is where BESS technology plays an important role.

To maintain this continuity, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) have redefined the future of electrical backup because they not only act as insurance against power failures or outages, but also as a strategic asset for smart energy management, clean energy integration, and reduced operating costs.

Why do data centers need BESS systems?

Due to the number of operations per second that data centers process and store, the demand for electrical power is extremely high and must be stable and available 24/7. Any interruption or fluctuation in supply, even for milliseconds, means millions in losses and, more importantly, the loss of critical data that is invaluable to the operation of businesses, governments, and industries.

Therefore, data centers require BESS systems for the following key reasons:

• Fast response and autonomy: Unlike other technologies, a BESS offers a response in milliseconds and can be designed to provide power for longer periods of several hours.
• Smart management and cost reduction: They are designed to perform “peak shaving,” i.e., charging during hours of low demand and low cost, and discharging stored energy to cover consumption peaks, thus avoiding costly peak demand charges.
• Integration with renewable sources: as data centers incorporate clean energy (solar, wind), BESS allow surplus energy generated during peak hours to be stored for later consumption, mitigating variability.
• Emerging regulations driving storage: The Mexican government has recently stipulated that new renewable plants must include at least 30% battery capacity with at least three hours of autonomy, which will favor the proliferation of BESS.

How does a BESS system work within a data center?

A BESS is designed to store electrical energy in batteries and manage its use intelligently and efficiently. Although the technical principle of BESS does not change, its architecture, size, and purpose do vary depending on the application in industrial environments.

In other words, in a data center, the system is configured to respond in milliseconds (<20 ms) and maintain uninterrupted power continuity, protecting servers from any outages. In contrast, in an industrial plant, BESS typically prioritizes consumption optimization and demand penalty reduction.

The overall operation of the BESS system depends on its internal components: lithium-ion batteries, a bidirectional inverter that converts AC/DC power, a BMS (Battery Management System) that monitors the state of the cells, and an EMS (Energy Management System) that manages charging and discharging strategies.

However, what is disruptive and modern about the operation of a BESS is that it is based on two main strategies:

• Load shifting, which consists of charging the BESS during off-peak hours and discharging it when energy is more expensive, optimizing the cost per kWh.
• Peak shaving, which reduces demand peaks by discharging stored energy during peak hours, lowering maximum demand and generating direct savings on the electricity bill.

Benefits of using BESS in data centers

The adoption of BESS in Mexico is driven by a perspective of competitiveness and sustainability in the electricity sector. In this sense, the benefits for a data center are tangible as it allows for:

• Operational continuity and independence: it provides robust power backup without relying exclusively on fossil fuel generators, which ensures uninterrupted operation during blackouts or grid fluctuations and improves resilience.
• Operational savings (OPEX): the reduction of demand peaks and intelligent energy management translate into a significant decrease in electricity bills, accelerating the return on investment (ROI).
• Sustainability and carbon footprint: facilitates the integration of renewable energy generation (solar or wind), enabling self-consumption of clean energy and aligning with energy transition goals.
• Scalability: BESS systems are modular, allowing data centers to scale storage capacity according to load growth and future needs.

Comparison: BESS + UPS vs. traditional UPS

In an industrial or critical environment such as data centers, a traditional UPS protects against instantaneous outages, but its autonomy is limited. Integrating a BESS system adds storage capacity, flexible management, and consumption optimization, achieving more efficient, reliable, and sustainable operation for critical data centers.

Industronic solutions for data centers in Mexico

Industronic, a leader in industrial electrical products and services, offers a specialized portfolio for data centers that includes:

• Scalable BESS systems, suitable for different sizes of data centers and industrial plants.
• Hybrid BESS + UPS systems, to guarantee immediate and prolonged backup with savings and efficiency.
• Industrial UPS: designed to mitigate load peaks and guarantee the quality and continuity of the supply.
• Lithium-ion batteries for UPS, which deliver greater efficiency, durability, energy density, and require very little maintenance.
• EMS system, which optimizes the charging/discharging of BESS batteries, manages backup times, and maximizes the use of renewable energy.
• Consulting and sizing services, supported by national and international energy efficiency management guidelines and standards.
• Preventive maintenance and monitoring, ensuring system health, safety, and regulatory compliance.

Frequently asked questions about BESS for data centers

What is the difference between a UPS and a BESS in a data center?

The main difference lies in their purpose and duration. A UPS provides immediate electrical power backup for a few minutes in the event of a grid failure, micro-outages, or power dips. In contrast, a BESS focuses on intelligent and strategic energy management, offering extended backup from minutes to hours, and the ability to decide when to store and when to release energy, reducing generator use and optimizing operating costs.

How long can a BESS power a data center?

The duration is fully scalable and configurable depending on the design and sizing of the system. A BESS for data centers can be designed to keep critical loads running for several hours or even days, depending on battery capacity (MWh), power requirements, and discharge strategy, providing a much more robust power bridge than a traditional UPS/generator system.

Does a BESS system replace a diesel generator?

Not always, but it can drastically reduce your dependence on and usage time of the generator.

In many cases, BESS complements the generator, eliminating the need to start it up for short and medium-duration outages. In addition, by offering a cleaner and quieter response, BESS allows the diesel generator to be reserved strictly for prolonged failures or as a final redundancy element, reducing fuel and maintenance costs and minimizing environmental impact.