Legrand's modular UPS wins Data Centre World award

Legrand has won a Data Centre World Awards 2026 prize for its Keor FLEX three-phase modular uninterruptible power supply (UPS), in a category focused on reuse and recycling in data centre infrastructure.

Keor FLEX received the Best Reuse or Recycling of Products, Energy, or Data Centre Infrastructure award. The category recognises approaches that reduce waste, extend equipment life, and support more sustainable data centre operations.

The awards were presented at Data Centre World London at ExCeL London and recognise product and operational developments across the industry.

Modular design

Keor FLEX is a modular UPS built around replaceable units rather than a single monolithic system. Individual power or bypass modules can be removed and replaced without shutting the system down.

This approach can shift end-of-life decisions away from full replacement. Operators can swap a single module, refurbish components, or redeploy modules in another environment, depending on maintenance policies and operational needs.

Legrand positions the product as an example of designing for reuse across the lifecycle of a critical power system, with the goal of keeping more of the UPS in service for longer and reducing the amount of equipment sent for disposal at one time.

Efficiency metrics

Legrand lists 98.6% efficiency in online double-conversion mode with TÜV certification, and over 99% efficiency in ECO mode.

The company also reports an 85% recyclability rate under IEC/TR 62635, more than 69% recyclable metal composition, and packaging with 50% recycled content.

Keor FLEX is specified up to 1.2MW within a 2.8m2 footprint. Legrand says the platform scales from 100kW to 1.2MW per frame and can reach 4.8MW when configured in parallel.

Component longevity

According to Legrand, the system uses Silicon Carbide technology and a low-impedance internal busbar architecture, which reduces thermal stress and extends the lifespan of semiconductors and power modules.

Legrand also highlights an internal busbar layout designed to reduce cable joints, cutting common thermal failure points associated with cabling and connections.

The company says the design uses a distributed resilience approach, validated through FMECA modelling, to limit unnecessary module swaps during operations and maintenance.

Battery reuse

Battery replacement can be a major source of waste and disruption in UPS lifecycles. Legrand says Keor FLEX includes a universal battery interface that supports existing VRLA, lithium-ion, or nickel-zinc battery strings.

This can allow operators to retain existing battery infrastructure during system upgrades, rather than replacing strings on a fixed cycle that may not reflect the battery's condition.

Legrand also says the product supports smart-grid functions such as peak shaving and fast frequency response, which it links to managing grid stress and upstream disturbances caused by rapid changes in data centre load.

AI workloads

Legrand says it has validated Keor FLEX as AI-ready, with performance aligned to high-density GPU workloads. It says the system has been tested under AI load conditions in accordance with IEC 62040-3.

As racks draw more power and workloads become more variable, data centre operators are paying closer attention to power quality and capacity planning. In response, UPS suppliers have pushed more modular designs, higher efficiency targets, and features tied to resilience and maintainability.

Marc Marazzi, Vice President at Legrand Data Centre Solutions Europe, said the product addresses the tension between rising demand and environmental targets.

"Data centers are under pressure to deliver more compute power while reducing environmental impact," Marazzi said.

"Keor FLEX proves that sustainability and performance are not mutually exclusive. By designing circularity into the core architecture, we've created a UPS platform that extends asset life, reduces waste, lowers energy consumption, and supports evolving AI workloads-all while improving total cost of ownership. This reflects Legrand's broader sustainability commitments, including being awarded an 'A' rating by CDP for the second consecutive year," he added.

Legrand reported sales of €9.5 billion in 2025 and is listed on Euronext Paris. The company says Keor FLEX is aimed at operators ranging from mid-size sites to hyperscale campuses, with configurations based on capacity and redundancy requirements.