Lithium Battery Application in Data Centers

Data Center Facility White Paper 101

 Analysis on Lithium Batteries Application in Data Centers

Foreword

Lithium-metal batteries and lithium-ion batteries are both

categorized as lithium batteries. However, the term lithium
batteries generally refers to lithium-ion batteries, which
contain no metallic lithium and support cyclic charge and
discharge.

In 1991, SONY launched its first commercial lithium-ion

battery. In 2009, Huawei began large-scale use of lithium
batteries in communications base stations. Since 2016, the
electric vehicle market, which uses lithium batteries, has
been growing exponentially. To date, the power output of
power batteries sold by the world's top ten lithium battery
manufacturers is equivalent to 90 GWh.

As the energy density and safety performance of lithium-

ion batteries continues to improve — and as the cost
declines — demand for lithium-ion batteries is increasing,
across communications, electric power, electric vehicle, and
data center fields. They are becoming a next-generation,
mainstream source of energy.

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Analysis on Lithium Batteries Application in Data Centers

1. Why Are Lithium Batteries Needed?

Lead-acid batteries have dominated the communications
industry for decades. But, due to disadvantages such as a
short cycle life, large size, heavy weight, and environmental
pollution in the production process, the development of
lead-acid batteries is shrinking in several countries. Indeed,
telecoms giant China Tower has even decided to halt bids
for lead-acid batteries.
Lithium batteries offer several advantages, such as high
energy density, a small footprint, and a long cycle life. As
the market share of lead-acid batteries decreases rapidly,
lithium battery usage is increasing around the globe. Lithium
batteries are used in almost all 5G sites, alongside their
wide use in the data centers of some large ISPs outside
China. The market share of lithium batteries is predicted to
approach or exceed that of lead-acid batteries in the next 3–5
years. It is widely agreed that lithium batteries will dominate
the market in the future.

1.1 Basic Concepts

Basic Parameters
Battery capacity (Ah): The amount (typically measured in amp hour) of electric
charge a battery can deliver at certain conditions (such as discharge rate, temperature,
and end-of-discharge voltage).
Charge or discharge rate (C): Charge or discharge current divided by rated capacity.

Working Principle
Typically, a lithium-ion battery uses lithium alloy metal oxide as the cathode material,
graphite as the anode material, and contains non-aqueous electrolytes.
Lithium battery Cathode material: There are many optional cathode materials. The mainstream
cabinet products are lithium iron phosphate (LFP), nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) or nickel
cobalt aluminum (NCA).
Anode material: Graphite is predominantly used.
LFP battery example:
Cathode reaction: Lithium-ions are embedded during discharge and deintercalated
during charge.
Charge: LiFePO4 → Li1-xFePO4 + xLi+ + xe-
Lithium battery Discharge: Li1-xFePO4 + xLi+ + xe- → LiFePO4
module Anode reaction: Lithium-ions are deintercalated during discharge and embedded
during charge.
Charge: xLi+ + xe- + 6 C → LixC6
Discharge: LixC6 → xLi+ + xe- + 6 C

Battery Classification (by Cathode Material)

LiCoO2 (LCO)
Lithium battery LiMnO2 (LMO)
cell LiFePO4 (LFP)
LiNiCoMnO2 (NCM)

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 Analysis on Lithium Batteries Application in Data Centers

Cathode Material Structure

LFP LMO LCO NCM

Olivine three- Cubic crystal Layered two- Layered two-dimensional
dimensional structure structure dimensional structure structure
More stable Stable Variable Variable

1.2 Long Cycle Life

Lithium batteries feature a long cycle life, long float charging life, high discharge efficiency, low capacity loss in fast discharge,
high energy density, and a small footprint. They are advantageous in scenarios with limited space. As lithium battery costs
continue to decline, they will be increasingly deployed in data centers.

Lithium batteries have a far longer cycle life than lead-acid batteries.

Lithium battery:
• 100% Depth Of Discharge (DOD): up to 3000 cycles; deep discharge: at least 3000 cycles
• 50% DOD: up to 6000 cycles; shallow discharge: at least 6000 cycles

Lead-acid battery:
• 100% DOD: approximately 150 cycles; deep discharge: requires frequent replacement in poor power grid scenarios
• 50% DOD: approximately 600 cycles; shallow discharge: requires frequent replacement in poor power grid scenarios

25℃ 0.5C/1C@70%EOL 25℃ 0.1C discharge / charge @70%EOL

12000 800
11200
Cycle life at different DOD

700
9000 600
Number of Cycles

500
5850
6000 400
4000 300
3000
3000 200
100
0 0
25% 50% 75% 100% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
DOD DOD

Li-ion battery Lead-acid battery

Figure 1: Cycle life curves of lithium and lead-acid batteries

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Analysis on Lithium Batteries Application in Data Centers

1.3 Long Float Charging Life

The float charging life of lithium batteries is more than twice that of lead-acid batteries.

Lithium battery:
• 70% End-Of-Life (EOL) float charging at 25℃ : up to 15 years; no need for replacement within
the 15 year life cycle if the power grid is adequate

Lead-acid battery:
• 70% EOL float charging at 25℃ : up to 7 years; requires replacement every 3–7 years even if
the power grid is adequate; labor-intensive and high battery cost

①Float Charging @25℃ Floating Charging @25℃

100% 1.3

90%

Capacity Retention/%
1.1
Capacity Retention/%

80%
0.9
70%

0.7
60%

50% 0.5
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 0 2 4 6 8 10
Service Life (Year) Service Life (Year)

Li-ion battery Lead-acid battery

Figure 2: Float charging life curves of lithium and lead-acid batteries

1.4 High Discharge Efficiency, Low Capacity Loss

in Fast Discharge
Lithium batteries are suitable for data centers that require the discharge of energy at a high rate, in a short time span.

Lithium battery:
• Short-time discharge at a high rate: more energy is discharged. As the discharge rate increases,
discharge capacity remains stable and can exceed 90%.

Lead-acid battery:
• Short-time discharge at a high rate: less energy is discharged. As the discharge rate increases,
discharge capacity decreases rapidly. More batteries are needed to offset the disadvantage, which
increases battery investment.

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 Analysis on Lithium Batteries Application in Data Centers

120 0.1C 1C 2C 4C
Li-ion Discharge rate
100
Normalized Capacity (%)

80

VRLA（High-end）

Released capacity %
60
Li-ion 100% 100% 100% 95%

40

VRLA（Low-end）
20

VRLA 100%
0
0 2 4 6 60%
40% 20%
C-rate

Figure 3: Discharge curves of lithium and lead-acid batteries at different rates

1.5 High Energy Density, Small Footprint

Lithium batteries are approximately 70% lighter and smaller than lead-acid batteries. They are preferred
in scenarios with limited space.

Weight/energy density (Wh/kg) ratio: 3:1

• Lithium battery: 100–150; lead-acid battery: 30–50

Volume/energy density (Wh/L) ratio: 3:1

• Lithium battery: 200–300; lead-acid battery: 60–90

Battery System Specifications 200KW,Rated voltage 380V,Backup time 30 mins

Battery Type VRLA Li-ion Battery

Battery Layout

Building load-bearing capacity reduction Space and footprint reduction Battery capacity reduction

88% 68% 63%

11,210 9,116 800

2,925 300
1,400

Weight(kg) Volume（ ） Capacity(Ah)

Figure 4: Footprint and weight comparison between lithium and lead-acid batteries for the same backup time

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Analysis on Lithium Batteries Application in Data Centers

2. Why Are LFP Batteries Needed?

Currently, mainstream lithium batteries in the industry include batteries are widely used in household vehicles, taxis, and
LCO, LMO, LFP, and NCM batteries. LCO batteries are mainly energy storage plants. LFP and NCP batteries are commonly
applied in the mobile phone industry. LMO batteries are used in data centers. LFP batteries are more reliable, while
mainly used in the electric bicycle industry. LFP batteries are NCM batteries provide higher energy density.
widely used in buses and energy storage plants, while NCM

2.1 Stable Structure

LFP batteries feature high thermal stability as well as a low rate and amount
of heat yield.
• LFP batteries are stable and generate little heat in high temperature environments. The peak power output for
heat yield is only approximately 1 W.
• NCM batteries are prone to oxygen evolution at high temperatures or pressure, which increases the burning
possibility. The peak power rate for heat yield is approximately 80 W/min. Explosive burning (within seconds)
can easily be triggered, which is hard to control.
• The total heat generated by LFP batteries is far lower than that of NCM and LMO batteries (the area formed
by the heat yield power curve and the horizontal axis represents the total heat generated).
Heat Generation Rate of Positive-Solvent Reaction/W

LiCoO2
80 Li1.1(Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3)0.9O2
LiMn2O4
LiFePO4
LiNi0.8Co0.15AI0.05O2
60
10

5
40

0
150 200 250 300
Temperature/℃
20

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

Temperature/℃

Figure 5: Heat generated by lithium batteries at different high temperatures

Source：P. Peng, F. Jiang., Thermal safety of lithium-ion batteries with various cathode materials: A numerical study.
International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. 103 (2016) 1008–1016

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 Analysis on Lithium Batteries Application in Data Centers

LFP batteries do not release oxygen in case of overcharge and overdischarge.

LFP batteries use an olivine three-dimensional structure, which is more stable and does not release the oxygen due
to thermal runaway.

No combustible substance or oxygen element released,

stable structure

Slow heat yield, no risk of fire or explosion

NCM batteries release oxygen in case of overcharge and overdischarge.

NCM batteries use a layered two-dimensional structure, which is easy to deform and release oxygen due
to thermal runaway.

Structure breakdown, oxygen released

(1)Li/O loss

(2)merge of TM laers
Sharp rise in temperature, fire and explosion

Source: Soroosh Sharifi-Asl, et al., Oxygen Release Degradation in Li-Ion Battery Cathode Materials: Mechanisms and
Mitigating Approaches. Adv. Energy Mater. 2019, 1900551.

2.2 Stable Performance

Test conclusion: LFP batteries are more reliable than NCM batteries.
Common test method:
• Puncture the cell with a needle to check its stability in the case of an internal short No fire of LiFePO4 nail test
circuit.
• Secure the fully charged battery.
• Use an 8 mm diameter high-temperature-resistant steel needle to puncture through
the geometrical center of the cell in the direction vertical to the cell polarity plate at
a speed of 25 mm/s, keep the needle in the cell, and observe for 1 hour.

Test conclusion:
• After an LFP battery is punctured with a needle (internal short circuit), the heat of
reaction inside the cell is minimal. The highest surface temperature of the cell is only
80° C, the cell does not catch fire or leak electrolytes, and its shell is intact.
• After an NCM battery is punctured with a needle (internal short circuit), the cell
reacts violently internally and generates a large amount of heat and oxygen in a
short time. The battery burns within one second, thermal runaway occurs within four Fire of NCM nail test
seconds, the highest surface temperature reaches 458° C, and the shell melts.

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Analysis on Lithium Batteries Application in Data Centers

Table 1: Safety test comparison between LFP and NCM batteries (puncture test)

Material Composition Highest Temperature Puncture Test Result

Burning within 1 second, thermal runaway within 4
NCM battery Li(NiCoMn)1/3O2 458℃
seconds, and shell melting

LFP battery LiFePO4 80℃ No electrolyte leakage, intact shell, no burning

10s 20s 30s

NCM

86℃，Catching Fire 458℃，Catching Fire 411℃，Catching Fire

Encloser Melted Encloser Melted

LFP

46℃，No Fire 72℃，No Fire 80℃，No Fire

Figure 6: Safety test comparison between LFP and NCM batteries (puncture test)
Source：K.Zaghib, et al., Enhanced thermal safety and high power performance of carbon-coated LiFePO4 olivine
cathode for Li-ion batteries. Journal of Power Sources, 219, 2012: 36-44

3. Summary of Data Center Lithium

Battery Application
Table 2: Battery recommendations for data centers

Lead-Acid
Item NCM Battery LFP Battery Recommend Reason
Battery
Footprint Large Smallest Small Space saving
Cycle life Short Long Long A solution in poor power grid scenarios
Float charging life Short Long Long No need to replace within the life cycle
Lithium battery
Short-time high-current discharge in data
Discharge rate Low High High
centers
Large energy for
Discharge efficiency Low High High
short-time discharge
High Highest
Chemical stability Poor Layered two- Olivine three- Lithium Battery- High reliability
dimensional structure dimensional structure
LFP battery
Puncture test N/A Fire No fire High reliability

Note: NCM batteries have a higher energy density but lower reliability than LFP batteries. LFP batteries are recommended for data centers
to keep balance between reliability and energy density.

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