Recent improvements in battery technology have made extended runtime battery power systems a viable option for electricians looking to provide backup power for their residential and small commercial clients. Gaia Power Technologies is a leading manufacturer of a turnkey battery energy storage system, the PowerTower, which is at the cutting edge of the extended runtime power system market.

Traditionally, generators have been the only option for extended runtime backup power in a home or small business. Where a generator was not an option due to permitting issues, siting difficulties, fuel availability, or aesthetic or environmental reasons, clients in need of backup power have typically had nowhere to turn, as traditional UPS systems provided only a few minutes of backup power, and installing extra batteries with a UPS was a time intensive, and costly, undertaking.

The traditional approach, however, is changing. Deep-discharge, valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries are improving in cost and performance, and have the ability to provide the extended, shallow discharge capability required for extended backup applications. VRLA batteries, installed with an inverter/charger, provide a number of advantages over traditional generator systems, including:

• Quiet Operation: With noise levels as low as 55dBA at 3 feet, battery backup systems offer a substantial noise advantage over traditional generator systems.
• No Emissions: By eliminating combustion, battery systems emit no carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or other pollution.
• High Power Quality: High-end inverter chargers create a near-perfect sine wave which is highly compatible with sensitive electronics. Battery-based systems also include a built in transfer switch, transferring to backup power within milliseconds when a blackout occurs, and provide continual surge protection against power fluctuations from the grid.
• Low Maintenance: With no moving parts, battery backup systems require little maintenance beyond replacing the batteries every 5-10 years

The PowerTower from Gaia Power Technologies is a turnkey battery backup power system that uses advanced power electronics and VRLA batteries to provide the power quality of a UPS system and the extended runtime of a generator. The PowerTower operates at 48VDC internally and is capable of 120/240VAC output. Designed as a complete system, the PowerTower includes power electronics, batteries, cabling, AC bypass breaker and DC breaker. It requires only an electrical feed from a main distribution panel and a connection to an emergency subpanel, and is designed to make installation as easy as possible. The PowerTower utilizes Xantrex inverters, is listed to Underwriters Laboratory specifications and is rigorously tested for safety and performance prior to shipment.

The PowerTower is designed as a modular system, with individual modules holding power electronics or batteries. The modular design of the PowerTower makes it easy for an installer to customize a system for a particular customer by adding capacity or energy storage without the additional cost typically associated with customized solutions, while the PowerTower’s modular design and unique bus-bar battery integration system ease the installation process. The PowerTower is currently available is sizes from 5.5kW to 16.5kW, and Gaia will be debuting 18kW, 24kW and 30kW PowerTowers later this year. With a footprint of only two feet by three feet, the PowerTower can easily be installed in a basement, garage or utility closet, and multiple PowerTowers can be connected together to provide increased runtime or power capacity.

For a homeowner who is suffering from frequent blackouts but who cannot, or will not, install a generator, the PowerTower provides an excellent option. Because battery systems can be installed indoors, need no fuel, and require fewer permits than a generator, many Gaia customers are attracted to the ease of installation of the PowerTower system. Multiple Gaia customers with small lots or insufficient gas pressure have turned to the PowerTower for backup power. The “green” consumer is attracted to the PowerTower’s low emissions and recyclable batteries, while the high-tech consumer can take advantage of the PowerTower’s remote monitoring capabilities and high quality power.

For a small business owner, downtime equals lost revenue. The PowerTower’s ability to back up critical loads like computers, servers, cash registers, and telephone systems can make the difference between a closed door and meeting the needs of a business’s clients. One recent Gaia customer, a dental office, runs its appointment calendar for five satellite offices through a central office. The dental office installed a PowerTower to provide computer and server room backup at their main office and was able to continue to book customer appointments for the five satellite offices during a multi-hour power outage at the main office. Because it can be installed indoors, the PowerTower provides an option to business owners when space constraints or landlords prevent the installation of a generator, and can be disconnected and moved with the business.

The PowerTower is also capable of operating in a hybrid configuration when unlimited runtime is required, with the PowerTower operating as the primary source of backup and the generator operating periodically to recharge the PowerTower. The PowerTower’s power electronics are designed to automatically control the generator, and also provide the added benefit of reducing reflected harmonics, allowing for the use of a smaller generator in a hybrid configuration than typically required when UPS systems are used in conjunction with generators.