New 80 Plus Ruby PSU Certification Sets New Efficiency Standard for Data Centers

Introduction to 80 Plus Ruby Certification

ClearResult, North America's largest energy efficiency and sustainability services provider, has introduced a new benchmark for power supply unit (PSU) efficiency: the 80 Plus Ruby certification 1

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This new standard surpasses the current highest tier, Titanium, and is specifically designed to address the growing energy demands of data centers, particularly in light of advancements in cloud computing and artificial intelligence 2

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Ruby Certification Requirements

The 80 Plus Ruby certification sets a new bar for PSU efficiency:

• Minimum 90% efficiency across the entire power delivery system
• 91% efficiency at 10% load
• 95% efficiency at 20% load
• 96.5% efficiency at 50% load
• 92% efficiency at 100% load

These requirements apply to 230V, 277V, and 480V AC-DC, as well as 380V DC configurations 3

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Importance of Light Loading Efficiency

A key feature of the Ruby certification is its focus on light loading efficiency. PSUs must maintain at least 90% efficiency even under a light 5% load, which helps minimize energy waste in redundant or oversized data center configurations 1

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Evolution of 80 Plus Certification

The 80 Plus certification program, launched in 2004, has evolved over time:

1. Bronze, Silver, and Gold ratings (initial tiers)
2. Platinum and Titanium ratings (higher efficiency tiers)
3. Ruby (newest and highest efficiency tier)

Each tier represents an increase in efficiency requirements, with Ruby now setting the highest standard 4

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Impact on Data Center Energy Consumption

The introduction of the Ruby certification comes at a critical time for data center energy management:

• Current data center electricity consumption: 0.4% of total U.S. electricity use
• Projected increase: 6.7% to 12% by 2028
• Driving factors: Rapid growth of generative AI and increased cloud computing demands 1

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Industry Response and Adoption

The industry has responded positively to the new certification:

• Delta Electronics has already secured Ruby approval for its 5,500W redundant server supply
• Other manufacturers are preparing to release compliant models 2

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Benefits of Ruby Certification

Adopting Ruby-certified PSUs can lead to several benefits for data centers:

1. Lower electricity bills
2. Decreased cooling loads
3. Progress toward carbon-reduction targets
4. Improved overall power-usage effectiveness (PUE) 2

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Future Implications

While the Ruby certification is currently aimed at data centers, it sets a new benchmark for PSU efficiency that could eventually influence consumer-grade power supplies. However, it's unlikely that 80 Plus Ruby certification will make it to mainstream PSUs for the consumer market in the near future 4

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