From strategy to standby

Scientists at Bell Labs invented the transistor in 1948, and with it came the Information Age—a tectonic shift from an industrial economy to a technological one, where information and the devices and systems that generate, process, transmit, receive and store it are worth their weight in gold. 

Over time, these devices and systems became more sophisticated. They got smarter, shrank and sped up—way up—giving birth to new systems and technologies like the internet. 

For most of the planet, the internet is a ubiquitous part of 21st-century life. It drives almost everything, from information and social change to interaction, connection and our daily minutiae, and with that level of global involvement comes a massive need for data processing, as well as the energy to power it. 

That's where data centers come in. 

Brandon Ewing, Senior Strategic Director - Data Centers, describes data centers as "the backbone of our digital world, providing the infrastructure behind everything from photos and file storage to cloud computing, AI, financial transactions and critical business systems.”

In other words, data centers power everything from media and memes to the critical infrastructure that supports our world's most important digital processes. Add in the current AI revolution, and you get demand unlike anything the world has seen. 

So what happens when the power that powers the internet loses power itself? 

Cummins designs backup power solutions to meet the specific needs of individual AI data centers, providing reliable, uninterrupted backup power for maximum uptime, so we'll never need to know.

Cummins engineers and designers collaborate directly with AI data centers, assessing sites, available resources, current function, capabilities and future goals. With a clear power picture Cummins then creates a backup power system tailored to their unique specifications and requirements, navigating complex challenges like ever-changing regulatory and compliance issues and the increasingly intricate nature of AI data center design.

But Cummins goes beyond expertise, offering a suite of next-gen hardware that can meet a wide range of power needs. 

Compact and right-sized, Centum Series freestanding and containerized generators offer a full spectrum of power ratings, delivering flexible, high-efficiency power designed for today—and tomorrow.

The QSK95 commercial generator delivers best-in-class performance, providing reliable, versatile backup power thanks to a rugged, high-horsepower engine built for demanding applications.

Cummins can help select the right power generation equipment for the facility and pair it with additional systems like cooling, battery backup and localized microgrid components, along with a customized maintenance program that includes access to an extensive parts supply chain to extend the hardware's lifespan and support day-to-day performance. 

Cummins can also incorporate existing equipment, including components from other manufacturers, into customized plans and maintenance agreements, and 24/7 field service and support is always there to maximize uptime and help keep power flowing in—and out. 

But beyond the right hardware and maintenance, Ewing says, to have the best chance at success, you've got to start early. 

"There’s a lot we can do to support our customers’ strategy and objectives. When a customer wants to build a data center, they start with questions like, where do I want to build it? Can I get power? Can I get water? Do I have a natural gas supply? Or maybe they have other needs they aren't aware of yet? The customers with the highest success rate and the best solutions are the ones who bring us in as early as possible. In most cases, years ahead of site deliveries, they have us look at different types of fuels, different genset configurations and obligations and/or constraints they have with utility and regulatory compliance. Our experts have the knowledge needed around all of this, and we can help customers get ahead of the fast timelines and creative power solutions.”

Connect with Cummins to get ahead on your data center planning or to learn more about strategy, hardware, maintenance agreements and more.