Think All ‘Pure Lead’ Batteries Are The Same? Think Again.

Why your data center might be losing out.

Legacy batteries could be costing you. But with so many alternatives out there… how do you know which batteries will benefit your data center?

An EnerSys^® specialist can help you uncover what your current UPS battery backup is really costing you and provide a customized plan to reduce your data center’s total cost of ownership (TCO). Connect with a member of the EnerSys^® team today.

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Everyone’s a problem solver, yet so many problems persist. Ask yourself…

is there something behind the hype that your supplier isn’t telling you? Will cheaper batteries end up costing your data center in the long run? Can your existing batteries REALLY protect you from financial and reputational damage? After all, $1m+ incidents of downtime are on the rise.¹

Why data centers opt for pure lead batteries

Among other reasons, pure lead batteries remain a popular choice for data centers due to:

Proven track-record — having traditionally delivered for data centers.
99% recyclability — making compliance with ESG goals and regulations easier and less costly compared with other battery chemistries.
Ease of integration — more likely to be compatible with existing fire suppression systems.

With many data centre operators trying to attain carbon neutrality, they need to explore more sustainable ways of keeping up with their ever-increasing energy demands.

Achieving Greater Energy Autonomy at Data Centre Sites

With many data centre operators trying to attain carbon neutrality, they need to explore more sustainable ways of keeping up with their ever-increasing energy demands.

There is considerable potential for data centres to employ their UPS battery assets in a grid support context to reduce running costs.

Using Data Centre Resources to Support Grid Stability and Peak Shaving

There is considerable potential for data centres to employ their UPS battery assets in a grid support context to reduce running costs.

TPPL batteries are an attractive option for data centre operators looking to run their systems at heightened temperatures and reduce their costs.

The Benefits of Running Your Data Centre Operation with Reduced Cooling

TPPL batteries are an attractive option for data centre operators looking to run their systems at heightened temperatures and reduce their costs.

Are all ‘pure lead’ batteries the same?

In a word: no. ‘Pure lead’ batteries vary in terms of performance, TCO, lifespan, and other factors. Your choice of batteries can have a detrimental effect on your data center’s operational efficiency and expenditure.

Let's find out what these differences mean in practice.

5 WAYS YOUR DATA CENTER COULD BE LOSING OUT—AND HOW THIN PLATE PURE LEAD (TPPL) SOLUTIONS FROM ENERSYS® CAN HELP

1. Are repeated battery replacements eating into your bottom line?

Inefficient ‘pure lead’ batteries can mean higher data center CAPEX.

Many batteries marketed as ‘pure lead’ contain pure lead paste (active material) but don’t contain a pure lead grid.
Non-pure lead grids use alloys — calcium, tin, antimony, etc. — which increase the rate of grid corrosion.
Faster grid corrosion means shorter battery lifespan and increased CAPEX on replacement batteries.

THE THIN PLATE PURE LEAD (TPPL) ADVANTAGE

12-year design life — more power for longer

Thin plate pure lead (TPPL) technology.
Pure lead grids with enhanced corrosion resistance — reduced expenditure on replacement batteries in the long run.

EXPLORE OUR RANGE OF TPPL BATTERIES

Datasafe XE Batteries

Odyssey Performance Batteries

DataSafe HX+ Batteries

2. More battery doesn’t have to mean more square footage.

Space which could be used for revenue-generating servers may be occupied by batteries instead.

Pure lead’ batteries with non-lead alloys tend to use thicker grids.
Thicker grids equal fewer plates, resulting in less reactive surface area.
The result: batteries with lower energy density, meaning you may need more batteries to meet your data center’s energy needs.

THE THIN PLATE PURE LEAD (TPPL) ADVANTAGE

Reduce physical space of batteries by 25%²— more room for revenue-generating servers

Increased energy density without compromising on battery lifespan.
Maximize use of physical space within your data center — more room for servers.

EXPLORE OUR RANGE OF TPPL BATTERIES

Datasafe XE Batteries

Odyssey Performance Batteries

DataSafe HX+ Batteries

3. Outage readiness isn’t about the hours; it’s about the first few seconds.

Underperforming ‘pure lead’ batteries may leave you unprepared for multiple outages in quick succession.

Batteries with thicker grids and less reactive surface area can slow down a battery’s rate of recharge.
Batteries with thicker grids and less reactive surface area can slow down a battery’s rate of recharge.

THE THIN PLATE PURE LEAD (TPPL) ADVANTAGE

Be ready for the next power outage

Fast recharge capability.
0%-80% state of charge in 50 minutes.
0%-100% state of charge in under 2.5 hours.
Ensure your data center is ready for multiple outages in quick succession.

EXPLORE OUR RANGE OF TPPL BATTERIES

Datasafe XE Batteries

Odyssey Performance Batteries

DataSafe HX+ Batteries

4. What if your power system can’t keep pace with your project?

Certain ‘pure lead’ batteries may self-discharge faster and even go to waste entirely if they sit in storage too long.

Non-lead alloys can increase the rate of self-discharge while a battery sits in storage.
The result: shorter shelf life, meaning even short construction project delays could cost you.
While the effects of self-discharge can be mitigated, doing so requires time and labor resources spent on maintenance charging.

THE THIN PLATE PURE LEAD (TPPL) ADVANTAGE

Unforeseen project delays? You’ll have more flexibility

Longer shelf life.
Low rate of self-discharge.
Maintenance-free storage for longer in the event of project delays.

EXPLORE OUR RANGE OF TPPL BATTERIES

Datasafe XE Batteries

Odyssey Performance Batteries

DataSafe HX+ Batteries

5. When lower cost comes with hidden trade-offs, are you really saving?

Batteries with lower upfront cost can result in higher TCO for your data center.

Cheaper batteries may require spending on earlier replacement and more maintenance.
Compromising on battery quality to save on CAPEX could put your data center at greater risk of financial damage due to downtime.

THE THIN PLATE PURE LEAD (TPPL) ADVANTAGE

Lower TCO

Save in the long term on replacement batteries, maintenance costs, physical space, etc.
Get long term peace of mind that you’re well protected from $1m+ downtime.

EXPLORE OUR RANGE OF TPPL BATTERIES

Datasafe XE Batteries

Odyssey Performance Batteries

DataSafe HX+ Batteries

Batterien

PRODUKTTYP WÄHLEN

DON'T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT

Recognition from prestigious industry bodies: Winner of Data Centre Review (DCR) Awards & Data Centre Solutions (DCS) Awards

How did TPPL deliver for a data center in northern Italy? Read below to find out

Ready to find a solution which works for your data center?

Your future demands new thinking and that’s what we’re here to address.
Start your journey towards lower TCO in 4 easy steps:

1

FILL OUT THE CONTACT US FORM IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES.

2

HEAR BACK FROM AN ENERSYS SALES REPRESENTATIVE.

3

GET A FREE, NO-OBLIGATION ANALYSIS OF WHAT YOUR CURRENT SETUP IS POTENTIALLY COSTING YOUR DATA CENTER.

4

GET A QUOTE SHOWING WHERE YOUR DATA CENTER COULD MAKE SAVINGS AND SLASH TCO.

Click HERE to get started

Source:
1. See the source above regarding the Uptime Institute ANNUAL OUTAGE ANALYSIS 2025 (Executive summary: Uptime Institute Global Data Center Survey 2023) (07/09/25).
2. This number is based on a recent case study of an EnerSys customer in northern Italy. Read the full case study here (enersys.com/49669f/globalassets/documents/marketing-literature/esg/data-centers/case-studies/emea/emea-en-es-dc-cs-milandatacentercasestudy.pdf) (07/09/25).

Think All ‘Pure Lead’ Batteries Are The Same? Think Again.

Legacy batteries could be costing you. But with so many alternatives out there… how do you know which batteries will benefit your data center?

Everyone’s a problem solver, yet so many problems persist. Ask yourself…

is there something behind the hype that your supplier isn’t telling you? Will cheaper batteries end up costing your data center in the long run? Can your existing batteries REALLY protect you from financial and reputational damage? After all, $1m+ incidents of downtime are on the rise.1

Why data centers opt for pure lead batteries

Achieving Greater Energy Autonomy at Data Centre Sites

Achieving Greater Energy Autonomy at Data Centre Sites

Using Data Centre Resources to Support Grid Stability and Peak Shaving

Using Data Centre Resources to Support Grid Stability and Peak Shaving

The Benefits of Running Your Data Centre Operation with Reduced Cooling

The Benefits of Running Your Data Centre Operation with Reduced Cooling

Are all ‘pure lead’ batteries the same?

Let's find out what these differences mean in practice.

5 WAYS YOUR DATA CENTER COULD BE LOSING OUT—AND HOW THIN PLATE PURE LEAD (TPPL) SOLUTIONS FROM ENERSYS® CAN HELP

1. Are repeated battery replacements eating into your bottom line?

Inefficient ‘pure lead’ batteries can mean higher data center CAPEX.

THE THIN PLATE PURE LEAD (TPPL) ADVANTAGE

12-year design life — more power for longer

EXPLORE OUR RANGE OF TPPL BATTERIES

2. More battery doesn’t have to mean more square footage.

Space which could be used for revenue-generating servers may be occupied by batteries instead.

THE THIN PLATE PURE LEAD (TPPL) ADVANTAGE

Reduce physical space of batteries by 25%2 — more room for revenue-generating servers

EXPLORE OUR RANGE OF TPPL BATTERIES

3. Outage readiness isn’t about the hours; it’s about the first few seconds.

Underperforming ‘pure lead’ batteries may leave you unprepared for multiple outages in quick succession.

THE THIN PLATE PURE LEAD (TPPL) ADVANTAGE

Be ready for the next power outage

EXPLORE OUR RANGE OF TPPL BATTERIES

4. What if your power system can’t keep pace with your project?

Certain ‘pure lead’ batteries may self-discharge faster and even go to waste entirely if they sit in storage too long.

THE THIN PLATE PURE LEAD (TPPL) ADVANTAGE

Unforeseen project delays? You’ll have more flexibility

EXPLORE OUR RANGE OF TPPL BATTERIES

5. When lower cost comes with hidden trade-offs, are you really saving?

Batteries with lower upfront cost can result in higher TCO for your data center.

THE THIN PLATE PURE LEAD (TPPL) ADVANTAGE

Lower TCO

EXPLORE OUR RANGE OF TPPL BATTERIES

ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTIONS

DataSafe® XE-Batterien

DataSafe® HX+ Batterien

ODYSSEY® Performance Batterien

DON'T TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT

How did TPPL deliver for a data center in northern Italy? Read below to find out

Ready to find a solution which works for your data center?

Your future demands new thinking and that’s what we’re here to address. Start your journey towards lower TCO in 4 easy steps:

1

FILL OUT THE CONTACT US FORM IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES.

2

HEAR BACK FROM AN ENERSYS SALES REPRESENTATIVE.

3

GET A FREE, NO-OBLIGATION ANALYSIS OF WHAT YOUR CURRENT SETUP IS POTENTIALLY COSTING YOUR DATA CENTER.

4

GET A QUOTE SHOWING WHERE YOUR DATA CENTER COULD MAKE SAVINGS AND SLASH TCO.

is there something behind the hype that your supplier isn’t telling you? Will cheaper batteries end up costing your data center in the long run? Can your existing batteries REALLY protect you from financial and reputational damage? After all, $1m+ incidents of downtime are on the rise.¹

Reduce physical space of batteries by 25%²— more room for revenue-generating servers

Your future demands new thinking and that’s what we’re here to address.
Start your journey towards lower TCO in 4 easy steps: