Once the decision has been made to purchase and install a backup generator, there are some important considerations to mull over. Select the generator type according to local fuel availability and the enterprise's power requirements for continuity.
How Much Juice?
Sizing one's generator should be based on data center power loads. Most small to mid-sized companies will need generators that provide roughly 75 kW of power for 48 to 72 hours. This is likely sufficient to weather a minor blackout lasting a few hours, but as history has shown, some blackouts can last for several days. Additionally, some enterprises may require a lot more electricity than a small generator can deliver, particularly if providing backup power for a larger data center (i.e. 300 servers or more).