Data centers using FFR to bolster grid resilience

Schneider Electric announces FFR capability in Galaxy VXL UPS to help data centers support grid stability.

• Main announcement/action: Schneider Electric provides Fast Frequency Reserve (FFR) functionality in its Galaxy VXL UPS models so data centers can temporarily disconnect from the grid for up to 30 seconds to allow utilities to switch generation sources during rapid fluctuations; this leverages existing UPS and integrates with Lithium‑ion and lead‑acid batteries for short‑duration activations.
• Background and details: The article cites the Institute for Energy Research estimate that data centers could use up to 20% of global energy within 10 years, and references Bank of America Institute data that 46% of the U.S. grid’s distribution infrastructure is “beyond its useful life”; it also notes an April 2025 outage affecting Portugal, Spain, parts of France, Germany, and Italy where renewables exacerbated instability (though did not cause the failure).