By: Arunabh Ghosh, Director – Power Conversion, Greater India
Introduction: Powering a Sustainable India
India is on a mission to reduce energy use by 89 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) by 2030. To support this goal, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has introduced a clear plan to improve energy use across industries and buildings. This includes better building codes, energy-saving rules for appliances, and the Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) scheme, which rewards industries that go beyond energy-saving targets. Through the Standards & Labelling programme, appliances are rated for efficiency—helping consumers choose smarter, power-saving products. These steps support India’s larger aim to reduce carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 and move toward a more sustainable future.
UPS – A Critical Pillar in Energy Efficiency
One of the lesser-discussed yet vital components of energy-efficient infrastructure is the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). In sectors such as data centres, healthcare, industry, and infrastructure, Socomec’s UPS systems combine advanced switching, measurement, energy conversion, and storage technologies. These systems not only ensure power continuity but also contribute to operational sustainability. Beyond backup power, modern UPS systems—especially those developed by Socomec—play a transformative role in energy efficiency. By combining advanced technologies in switching, measurement, energy conversion, and storage, Socomec UPS solutions optimize power usage and reduce energy losses. These systems support scalable, high-efficiency operations with reduced total cost of ownership.
Engineering the Future: Key UPS Innovations
The Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) landscape has undergone a transformative evolution, driven by significant advances in design, technology, and materials. Today’s UPS systems are not only more efficient and reliable, but also deliver higher performance within a dramatically reduced footprint.
The transformer-free UPS which have become very popular over the past decade eliminates the need for the step-up transformer after the invertor. IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) technology deal with high voltages to handle high voltages directly, these UPS systems have become smaller, lighter, and more efficient. They also generate less heat, making them easier to manage and more environmentally friendly.
Modular UPS systems are fast replacing traditional monolithic units, as they offer customers the all-important flexibility. Customers can choose the UPS as per the load requirement and then add in extra power modules as and when the need arises. This helps to keep the capital cost under check reducing the threat of wasteful, inefficient oversizing. With Modular UPS systems, floorspace is optimised. What more? It also offers high power density in a compact footprint. Each power module can be replaced without having to power down the whole UPS and this implies downtime-free maintenance.
More and more UPS manufacturers are moving towards silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors from traditional silicon based IGBTs. SiC-based UPS units offer significantly higher efficiency, lower electrical resistance, and reduced energy losses. They also deliver improved power density and can run at higher ambient temperatures, while enhancing responsiveness, durability, extended component lifecycles and reduced maintenance requirements.
Modern UPS can communicate with the lower power networks, thanks to the groundbreaking advancements in communications protocols, management and monitoring software, battery technologies. They not only ensure clean, stable power during disturbances but can also feed energy back into the grid, contributing to frequency regulation and grid stability.
An increasingly standard feature in advanced UPS systems is the Smart Conversion Mode, which intelligently balances between online double-conversion and eco-mode operation. This hybrid approach allows the UPS to deliver maximum energy efficiency during normal conditions while automatically switching to full protection mode during disturbances—striking the ideal balance between performance, efficiency, and energy savings.
With such cutting-edge innovations, the modern UPS is no longer just a backup power device—it has become an intelligent, adaptive, and essential component of the digital infrastructure, powering the future with resilience and efficiency.
Socomec at the Forefront: Intelligent, Modular, and Green
Socomec is continuously investing in cutting-edge technology ensuring unmatched UPS longevity and empowering our customers to meet sustainability goals and contribute to a greener future.
The Delphys XL UPS series, known for its 99.1% efficiency via Smart Conversion Mode, embodies Socomec’s commitment to sustainability and operational excellence. Its compact design optimizes energy use, while cold-extractible power bricks reduce MTTR (Mean Time Between Failures), crucial for minimizing downtime and reduce the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) in modern data centres . Advanced features ensure Genset stability during load variations, showcasing reliability. With fault-tolerant design offering double conversion mode redundancy up to 80% of the rated power, it’s a critical asset for Tier III & IV data centres, ensuring continuous power supply and mitigates disruptions.
MODULYS XM is Socomec’s next-generation modular UPS system, designed for maximum reliability, scalability, and operational efficiency. With a flexible architecture that scales up to 2 MW, it features 50 kW hot-swappable power modules—each independently controlled, with embedded galvanic isolation and third-party certified MTBF exceeding 1,000,000 hours. The system’s distributed parallel control eliminates single points of failure, while smart fault isolation ensures that issues in one module do not impact the rest. Maintenance is fast and safe, with full front access and automatic firmware alignment, enabling power modules to be added or replaced in just two minutes. Designed with sustainability in mind, MODULYS XM supports a variety of battery technologies (VRLA, Li-ion, Ni-Cd), features eco-friendly components, and enables remote diagnostics to reduce carbon emissions. With compliance to international standards and parallel capability up to 2 MW, MODULYS XM is the ideal solution for data centres, healthcare, infrastructure, and industrial applications.
Another high-performance offering from Socomec, the DELPHYS XM, is a high power-density UPS solution delivering superior efficiency and compliance with EN/IEC 62040-1, EN/IEC 62040-2, and EN/IEC 62040-3 standards. Available in capacities ranging from 300 to 800 kVA/kW, DELPHYS XM is tailored for data centres, commercial buildings, and industry-light environments, enabling enterprises to meet their sustainability and efficiency objectives with confidence.
Socomec’s free mobile App, SoLive, automatically reports the current status of the UPS, providing instant notification of any event. Alternatively, Socomec experts also provide 24/7 monitoring and send a technician to location if necessary for ensuring customer’s peace of mind.
In the evolving electrical sector, cutting-edge technologies such as IoT and remote monitoring are reshaping industry dynamics. These digital enablers support predictive maintenance, optimize operational efficiency, and enhance overall productivity across sectors. Moreover, we foresee that as India advances in industrial growth, green manufacturing emerges not just as a strategy but as an imperative.
Enhancing Efficiency through Digital Tools & Monitoring
The massive digitalisation means increased data that needs to be available on demand. This in turn has given rise to the need for continuous power supply and uninterrupted power even in case of power disruptions. Massive digitalisations have amplified the potential impact of cyberattacks and using UPS systems can help buffer unpredictable power disruptions. Recognizing this, Socomec integrates robust cybersecurity protocols into its digital UPS platforms. With secure data encryption, role-based access controls, and regular firmware updates, we ensure the integrity of communications and system operations.
Conclusion: A Smarter, Greener Grid with Socomec
Thanks to major advancements in communication protocols, monitoring software, and battery technology, modern UPS systems can now interact directly with local power grids. In line with environmental goals, Socomec ensures compliance with RoHS and WEEE directives and designs its systems for easy disassembly and recycling at end-of-life. Compatible with next-generation battery chemistries, Socomec’s UPS systems are future-ready and engineered for minimal ecological impact. Depending on real-time load conditions, they can draw electricity from the grid or feed stored energy back into it, helping to balance demand and supply while maintaining grid stability.
Empowering the Digital Age: Resilience through UPS
As a global leader in power management, Socomec is dedicated to meet these evolving energy needs by manufacturing eco-design products in India, prioritizing environmental sustainability to provide innovative solutions that help organizations minimize their carbon footprint and achieve resilience goals. The adoption of sustainable practices offers not only economic resilience and global competitiveness but also underscores a commitment to environmental stewardship. Also keeping in pace with today’s digital landscape, Socomec’s investments will also be promptly made in developing adequate technology that supports uninterrupted power supply, connectivity, and a wide array of digital services. The adoption of advanced technologies minimizes downtime, reduces wastage, and enhances operational efficiency, resulting in overall cost reduction for electrical infrastructure.