For a data center, electricity isn't simply another utility expense. It is the foundation of the entire operation.
Servers, networking equipment, storage systems, cooling equipment, security systems, fire protection, monitoring systems and supporting infrastructure all depend on continuous electrical power.
When utility power fails, even a short interruption can disrupt operations.
That's why backup generators for data centers shouldn't be treated as an afterthought.
At AC Units For Less, we help commercial customers evaluate standby generator solutions based on the facility's actual electrical requirements—including critical IT loads, cooling equipment, voltage, phase, motor starting requirements, fuel availability and future expansion.
Our commercial generator offering includes Briggs & Stratton standby generators from 80kW through 200kW, with multiple three-phase electrical configurations, as well as natural-gas generator solutions for applications where efficient gas-powered standby generation is preferred.
Why Backup Power Is Critical for Data Centers
A data center contains much more than racks of servers.
The electrical infrastructure may need to support:
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Servers
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Storage systems
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Network switches
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Routers
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Firewalls
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UPS systems
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Cooling equipment
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CRAC or CRAH systems
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Pumps
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Fans
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Building-management systems
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Security systems
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Fire-detection systems
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Access control
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Emergency lighting
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Monitoring equipment
UPS systems can bridge a short interruption, but a generator provides the longer-duration power required when a utility outage continues.
A properly engineered standby generator system therefore becomes part of the data center's overall continuity strategy.
Data Center Generator Sizing Is Different
Buying a generator for a data center isn't as simple as looking at the building's square footage.
Two data centers occupying buildings of exactly the same size could have dramatically different electrical requirements.
Generator selection needs to consider the facility's actual loads.
That includes:
IT load + cooling load + pumps + fans + lighting + security + auxiliary equipment + starting loads + appropriate engineering margin
Cooling deserves particular attention.
Servers generate heat continuously. Keeping servers powered while failing to maintain the necessary cooling infrastructure doesn't provide a complete backup-power solution.
At AC Units For Less, our experience supplying both commercial HVAC equipment and commercial generators gives customers a useful advantage when evaluating facilities where cooling represents a significant portion of the emergency electrical load.
Why Data Centers Should Consider Briggs & Stratton Commercial Generators
Briggs & Stratton isn't limited to residential standby generators.
AC Units For Less offers commercial Briggs & Stratton generators across capacities including:
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80kW
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100kW
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125kW
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150kW
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200kW
Multiple electrical configurations are available within the range, including 120/208V, 120/240V and 277/480V three-phase options.
That flexibility matters for commercial facilities because generator selection needs to match the facility's electrical infrastructure—not the other way around.
Briggs & Stratton 150kW for Data Center Applications
The Briggs & Stratton 150kW natural-gas standby generator is particularly relevant when evaluating medium commercial and edge-data-center applications.
Available configurations include three-phase models suited to different commercial electrical systems.
For example, AC Units For Less offers Briggs & Stratton 150kW models across multiple voltage configurations.
A 150kW generator can become part of a backup-power design supporting loads such as:
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IT infrastructure
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Server rooms
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Network equipment
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Cooling equipment
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Pumps
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Lighting
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Security
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Building controls
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Other mission-critical equipment
However, a 150kW rating alone doesn't determine whether the generator is correctly sized.
Actual facility loads must be calculated.
Remote Generator Monitoring Matters for Data Centers
A data-center generator should not be equipment that facility managers think about only when the utility fails.
Generator status should be monitored as part of the facility's broader infrastructure-management strategy.
Briggs & Stratton offers commercial-generator monitoring capabilities that can provide visibility into generator status and help support remote troubleshooting.
This can be valuable for:
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Remote data centers
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Edge computing locations
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Colocation facilities
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Unstaffed facilities
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Distributed infrastructure
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Multiple-site operations
If your organization operates several locations, generator monitoring becomes increasingly important.
Natural Gas Generators Can Be Attractive for Data Centers
Fuel strategy is another major decision.
Commercial standby generators may operate on fuels including diesel, propane or natural gas depending on the equipment and application.
Natural gas offers several potential operational advantages where adequate utility gas service is available.
Instead of relying entirely on a finite amount of fuel stored on-site, a natural-gas generator can connect to the facility's gas supply.
This can reduce the need for fuel storage and refueling logistics during an extended electrical outage.
However, fuel selection should always consider local infrastructure, required runtime, applicable codes, site resiliency goals and whether the gas supply itself meets the facility's continuity requirements.
Cooper Corporation: Natural-Gas Generators Up to 150kW
Another generator manufacturer worth considering for gas-powered standby applications is Cooper Corporation.
Cooper manufactures engines and generator systems and offers a U.S. natural-gas standby-generator range extending from 22kW to 150kW.
For data-center and commercial applications requiring greater capacity, the Cooper 150kW natural-gas genset is particularly interesting.
The U.S. 150kW model is rated for:
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150kW electrical output
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Natural gas
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120/208V
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Three-phase power
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1,800 RPM / 60 Hz
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Brushless alternator
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Automatic Voltage Regulation
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Remote monitoring
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Remote start/stop
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Digital operating information
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Water-cooled engine
The generator also uses a Deep Sea control system and provides monitoring and protection for operating conditions including voltage, frequency, oil pressure and coolant temperature.
For commercial facilities seeking a dedicated natural-gas generator platform, this creates another option alongside established Briggs & Stratton commercial solutions.
Briggs & Stratton vs Cooper for Data Center Backup Power
These products shouldn't be compared simply by asking which manufacturer is "better."
Start with the facility.
Briggs & Stratton
Briggs & Stratton gives commercial customers a broad capacity range through AC Units For Less.
Options from 80kW through 200kW make it possible to evaluate several capacities and electrical configurations.
This can be especially useful when projects require:
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120/208V three-phase
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120/240V three-phase
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277/480V three-phase
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80–200kW capacity
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Natural-gas configurations
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Commercial remote monitoring
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Larger commercial and industrial applications
Cooper Corporation
Cooper provides another compelling option where the project specifically calls for a natural-gas standby generator.
Its U.S. gas-generator range currently extends from 22kW to 150kW, while its 150kW model provides three-phase 120/208V output.
For a data center, the correct selection should be based on engineering requirements rather than brand name alone.
One 150kW Generator or Multiple Generators?
This is where data-center generator planning becomes particularly interesting.
Suppose a facility calculates approximately 250kW of critical generator-supported load.
Buying one generator isn't necessarily the only architecture.
Depending on the engineering design, the facility might evaluate configurations involving multiple generator sets.
For example:
Generator A → Critical Load Group A
Generator B → Critical Load Group B
Or an engineered system may use multiple generators as part of a more sophisticated redundant architecture.
Data centers commonly think in terms of redundancy because the failure of one component shouldn't necessarily bring down the entire operation.
The same philosophy can influence generator architecture.
Understanding N, N+1 and Generator Redundancy
If the facility requires a certain amount of generating capacity to support its critical load, that required capacity can be thought of as N.
An N+1 design adds additional capacity so the system can potentially tolerate the loss or maintenance of one generator component, depending on the system architecture.
For example, rather than thinking only:
“How many kilowatts does my data center consume?”
A better planning discussion is:
“How much generating capacity does the facility require, and what level of redundancy do we require if one generator is unavailable?”
That question can dramatically change the design.
Generator paralleling, synchronization, controls, switchgear and redundancy should be engineered by professionals experienced with mission-critical electrical infrastructure.
Don't Forget the Data Center Cooling Load
One of the biggest generator-sizing mistakes is concentrating exclusively on servers.
Servers generate heat.
If the IT infrastructure remains powered but the cooling system shuts down, temperatures can rise quickly.
Generator sizing therefore needs to account for whatever cooling infrastructure must remain operational.
Depending on the data center, that might include:
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Computer-room air conditioners
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CRAC units
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CRAH units
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DX systems
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Chillers
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Pumps
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Cooling towers
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Condensers
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Air handlers
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Exhaust systems
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Controls
These loads can also include motors and compressors with significant starting requirements.
This is one area where AC Units For Less has an unusual advantage as both an HVAC and generator supplier.
Instead of viewing backup generation and cooling as unrelated purchases, they can be evaluated as interconnected pieces of the facility's continuity strategy.
120/208V vs 277/480V Data Center Generators
Generator voltage must match the electrical design of the facility.
Commercial properties commonly use three-phase electrical systems.
Depending on the application, that may include:
120/208V three-phase
or
277/480V three-phase
AC Units For Less currently offers Briggs & Stratton commercial generator configurations across these voltage classes.
For example, the Briggs & Stratton commercial lineup includes 100kW, 125kW, 150kW and 200kW options in several electrical configurations.
Don't select the generator first and then attempt to make the facility work around it.
Determine:
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Facility voltage
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Phase
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Critical load
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Starting requirements
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Fuel
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Required redundancy
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Transfer architecture
Then select the generator.
Why Buy a Data Center Generator from AC Units For Less?
Data-center customers aren't simply buying a generator.
They're purchasing part of a critical infrastructure system.
AC Units For Less can help customers evaluate commercial generator options across different capacities and configurations while also understanding another major part of the emergency load: HVAC.
Commercial Generator Selection
We offer commercial Briggs & Stratton standby generators ranging from 80kW through 200kW, with multiple voltage and phase configurations.
Natural-Gas Generator Options
Natural-gas generator solutions can reduce dependence on stored liquid fuel where the facility has sufficient and appropriately resilient gas service.
HVAC Experience
Cooling can represent a substantial part of a data center's electrical demand.
AC Units For Less supplies commercial HVAC equipment as well as generators, allowing customers to approach both sides of the backup-power equation.
Multiple Generator Capacities
Not every project needs 200kW.
Customers can evaluate 80kW, 100kW, 125kW, 150kW and 200kW Briggs & Stratton options and additional natural-gas generator solutions based on actual project requirements.
Commercial Project Support
Generator selection requires more information than simply asking for the building size.
Before selecting equipment, gather:
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Utility service voltage
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Phase
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Existing electrical drawings
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Critical IT load
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UPS output/load
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Cooling equipment specifications
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Motor and compressor loads
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Desired runtime
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Fuel availability
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Required redundancy
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Expected future expansion
This gives the project team a much stronger foundation for selecting equipment.
Planning for Data Center Expansion
Today's electrical load may not be tomorrow's electrical load.
A data center may add:
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Additional racks
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Higher-density servers
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AI/GPU infrastructure
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Additional cooling
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Network equipment
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Storage
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UPS capacity
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Pumps
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Security infrastructure
Generator planning should therefore consider reasonable future expansion.
Buying equipment sized precisely to today's maximum demand can leave little room for tomorrow's growth.
At the same time, simply oversizing a generator without performing an engineering analysis isn't the answer.
The goal is to build an appropriately engineered backup-power strategy.
Data Center Generator Buying Checklist
Before requesting a generator quote, gather the following information:
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Critical load in kW
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Facility voltage
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Single-phase or three-phase
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UPS capacity and configuration
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HVAC equipment that must remain operational
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Motor and compressor starting requirements
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Natural gas, propane or other available fuel
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Desired backup runtime
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N, N+1 or other redundancy requirement
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Automatic transfer-switch requirements
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Remote monitoring requirements
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Expected facility expansion
For larger or mission-critical installations, generator selection, redundancy, transfer equipment, protection, fuel systems and installation should be engineered by appropriately qualified professionals.
Shop Commercial Data Center Generators at AC Units For Less
Whether you're building an edge data center, server facility, colocation site, communications facility or another mission-critical operation, backup power should be planned around the equipment that cannot afford to stop.
AC Units For Less offers Briggs & Stratton commercial standby generators from 80kW through 200kW, including multiple three-phase voltage configurations.
For projects centered around natural-gas standby generation, Cooper Corporation gas gensets up to 150kW provide another option to evaluate.
Instead of starting with a brand or generator size, start with your facility:
How much power do you need?
What voltage and phase does the facility use?
How much cooling must remain operational?
What happens if one generator becomes unavailable?
How much additional capacity will you need in the future?
Answer those questions first.
Then AC Units For Less can help you identify generator options that match the project's requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Size Generator Does a Data Center Need?
There is no universal data-center generator size. Generator capacity depends on critical IT load, UPS configuration, cooling equipment, auxiliary loads, motor starting requirements and the desired redundancy architecture.
Is a 150kW Generator Enough for a Data Center?
A 150kW generator may be appropriate for some smaller data centers, edge facilities, server rooms and other critical infrastructure applications, but the answer depends entirely on the calculated electrical load.
AC Units For Less carries Briggs & Stratton 150kW commercial generators, while Cooper Corporation also manufactures a 150kW natural-gas standby genset.
Does Briggs & Stratton Make Commercial Generators?
Yes. Briggs & Stratton manufactures commercial standby generators well beyond its residential PowerProtect range. AC Units For Less currently offers commercial models in 80kW, 100kW, 125kW, 150kW and 200kW capacities.
Does Cooper Corporation Make a 150kW Natural-Gas Generator?
Yes. Cooper Corporation's U.S. generator lineup includes a 150kW natural-gas standby genset. The published 150kW model uses 120/208V three-phase output at 60 Hz and includes remote-monitoring capabilities.
Can Natural Gas Generators Be Used for Data Centers?
Natural-gas standby generators can be considered for data-center applications when their electrical performance, fuel supply, runtime, reliability requirements and applicable codes align with the facility's design.
Fuel-system resilience should be evaluated as part of the overall data-center continuity plan.
Why Does HVAC Matter When Sizing a Data Center Generator?
IT equipment produces heat continuously. If servers remain powered during an outage, the cooling systems supporting them may also need emergency power.
Cooling compressors, fans, pumps and other equipment can represent substantial electrical and starting loads.
Can Multiple Generators Be Used for a Data Center?
Yes. Mission-critical facilities can use multiple generator sets as part of an engineered redundant power architecture. Paralleling, synchronization, transfer equipment, protection and controls require appropriate engineering.
Where Can I Buy a Commercial Generator for a Data Center?
AC Units For Less supplies commercial standby-generator solutions and commercial HVAC equipment. Customers can compare Briggs & Stratton commercial generators across multiple capacities and electrical configurations and discuss natural-gas generator options for data-center and mission-critical projects.
