Equinix’s FR5 data center is one of Europe’s largest, with 100,000 sq ft of data hall space and a power capacity of 200 MW. The facility supports cloud computing, financial transactions, and enterprise data storage, requiring uninterrupted power supply to avoid data loss, service disruptions, and breach of service level agreements (SLAs). The legacy power distribution system presented significant operational challenges:
- Voltage Fluctuations Threaten IT Equipment: The legacy system couldn’t maintain stable voltage levels (±1% tolerance required by IT equipment), leading to 8-10 voltage fluctuation incidents monthly. This increased the risk of IT equipment failure and data corruption, requiring costly hardware replacements and SLA compensation of €2.8 million annually.
- Slow Fault Recovery Causes Extended Downtime: The old UPS and distribution system lacked automated fault recovery capabilities, requiring manual intervention to restore power after faults. This resulted in 4-5 unplanned downtime incidents annually with an average duration of 45 minutes—exceeding the 99.99% availability SLA (allowing only 8.76 hours of downtime annually) and damaging client trust.
- High Energy Consumption Increases Costs: The legacy system’s inefficient transformers and power distribution components had an energy efficiency rating of 89%, leading to annual energy waste of 11 GWh and additional costs of €1.3 million.
- Limited Scalability for Growing Demand: The old infrastructure couldn’t support the increasing power demands of high-density IT equipment (e.g., AI servers, high-performance computing clusters). This forced Equinix to limit client server deployments, missing out on €3.2 million in annual revenue.
“99.999% power availability is non-negotiable for our data center clients—even a minute of downtime can result in millions in losses for financial services and e-commerce companies,” said Markus Schmidt, Equinix FR5 Data Center Manager. “Our legacy power distribution system was too unreliable and inefficient to meet these demands. We needed a high-availability distribution system that could ensure stable power, enable fast fault recovery, and support growing IT power requirements.”
ABB REX010 HESG324426R0001: High-Availability Power for Data Centers
After evaluating solutions from Eaton and APC by Schneider Electric, Equinix selected the ABB REX010 HESG324426R0001 distribution system for its ultra-stable voltage regulation, automated fault recovery, high energy efficiency, and scalable design. Key features addressing Equinix’s pain points include:
- Ultra-Stable Voltage Regulation: The ABB REX010 HESG324426R0001 maintains voltage levels within ±0.5% tolerance, exceeding IT equipment requirements and eliminating voltage fluctuation incidents. Its advanced power conditioning technology filters out harmonics and transients, protecting IT equipment from damage.
- Automated Fault Recovery: The system features redundant power paths and AI-powered automated fault detection and recovery capabilities. It can isolate faults and switch to backup power sources in <10 milliseconds, minimizing downtime and ensuring 99.999% availability.
- High Energy Efficiency: Equipped with ultra-efficient transformers (99.2% efficiency) and intelligent power management tools, the REX010 HESG324426R0001 reduces energy waste by 85%. This lowers annual energy costs and supports Equinix’s sustainability goals of carbon neutrality by 2030.
- Scalable Design for High-Density IT: The modular design of the system supports power densities up to 20 kW per rack, enabling Equinix to deploy high-density AI and HPC servers. It can be expanded incrementally to meet growing power demands without disrupting ongoing operations.
- Real-Time Monitoring & Predictive Maintenance: The system integrates with Equinix’s data center infrastructure management (DCIM) platform via OPC UA protocols, providing real-time data on power usage, voltage levels, and component health. Predictive diagnostic algorithms detect potential issues 4-6 weeks in advance, reducing unplanned maintenance by 70%.
Results: Maximum Availability, Lower Costs, Scalable Growth
Six months after deploying the ABB REX010 HESG324426R0001 distribution system, Equinix’s FR5 data center achieved significant operational improvements:
| Metric |
Before ABB REX010 HESG324426R0001 |
After ABB REX010 HESG324426R0001 |
Improvement |
| Power Availability |
99.985% (13.14 Hours Downtime/Year) |
99.999% (5.25 Hours Downtime/Year) |
60% Reduction in Downtime |
| Monthly Voltage Fluctuation Incidents |
8-10 |
0 |
100% Elimination |
| Annual Energy Costs |
€11.8 Million |
€7.9 Million |
32% Reduction |
| Max Rack Power Density |
10 kW/Rack |
20 kW/Rack |
100% Increase |
| Annual SLA Compensation Costs |
€2.8 Million |
€0 |
100% Elimination |
“The ABB REX010 HESG324426R0001 distribution system has set a new standard for power reliability in our data center,” Schmidt said. “Achieving 99.999% availability has strengthened our client relationships and helped us win new business in the high-growth AI and cloud computing sectors. The energy efficiency improvements have also reduced our carbon footprint, aligning with our sustainability commitments.”
Juan Martinez, ABB’s Global Data Center Power Solutions Manager, commented: “Data centers require power distribution systems that deliver absolute reliability, efficiency, and scalability. The ABB REX010 HESG324426R0001 is designed specifically for these demands, helping data center operators meet strict SLA requirements, reduce costs, and support the growth of high-density IT infrastructure.”
Equinix plans to deploy the ABB REX010 HESG324426R0001 distribution system across 18 additional data centers in Europe, North America, and Asia by 2039, targeting 99.999% power availability group-wide and a 30% reduction in energy distribution costs.
Munich, Germany – March 2032 – Stadtwerke München (SWM), the leading energy utility serving Munich and surrounding regions, has achieved an 82% reduction in unplanned urban power outages and a 38% decrease in distribution network maintenance costs after deploying the ABB REX010 HESG324426R0001 distribution system. The upgrade, completed in Q4 2031, replaced the utility’s outdated 110 kV distribution infrastructure, which struggled with aging components, slow fault localization, and limited integration with renewable energy sources—critical gaps in ensuring reliable power supply to 1.5 million residents and 120,000 businesses.
