In typical standby power applications, multiple gen-set units are joined together using a series of paralleling switchgear. Generac Power Systems has taken a different approach with its new Modular Power System (MPS) generators, as the paralleling technology is integrated into the actual gen-set package.

"Switchgear components add complexity to the system, and from an engineering perspective we just designed them out," said Dino Xykis, corporate vice president, engineering at Generac. "We don't use motorized breakers. We don't have a huge switchboard to support. We don't need to."
Not only does this create a simpler system with less components, Xykis said, it also gives users the flexibility to expand from a single 300 kW unit up to 6 MW as their standby power needs grow. "Users don't have to put all the capital up front," he said. "They can scale and correlate their power demands to the amount of power they need provided."

Paul Bowers, Generac's director of sales added, "if one unit goes down, there is always a system providing redundancy to power the critical load. You can substitute two 500 kW units for a 1 MW unit and even if you lose one, you still have 500 kW to provide to the critical loads.

"Right now, 40% of our MPS systems have gone into life safety or mission-critical applications between healthcare and data centers," Bowers continued. "For them, it's a very cost-effective solution because they're getting the built-in redundancy with the MPS, without actually paying any more. This same thought process can also be taken to wastewater treatment pl