How colocating data centers with generation resources can meet rising energy demands

Just listened to an enlightening Catalyst podcast with Sheldon Kimber (CEO of Intersect Power), and the insights on data center power supply strategies are game-changing for our industry. https://lnkd.in/gJzwD7w8 Some of the biggest take-aways I learned from the discussion were around various strategies to bring capacity to these load centers; onsite generation, transmission of low cost power to a new market, storage to capture underutilized power, and virtual power curtailment. All of these have challenges related to time to deployment and a mix of solutions will help clients meet their needs in various markets. #DataCenters #EnergyTransition #AI #PowerGeneration #CleanEnergy #Infrastructure

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 Two energy leaders, Siemens Energy and Eaton, are teaming up to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing data centers: reliable, fast access to power ⚡️.  Key takeaways:  🔹 Overcoming 7–9 year interconnection delays with onsite solutions  🔹 Modular microgrids: scalable from 250 MW to 1 GW  🔹 Boosting efficiency, redundancy, and financial sustainability  🔹 Navigating global regulatory hurdles  🔹 Shifting data centers from heavy consumers to grid-friendly operators https://lnkd.in/g-yZygC8

Friction is slowing down the data center boom. ⚠️ At FuelCell Energy, we define friction as the real, structural roadblocks stalling deployment and driving up costs. From years-long utility interconnection delays and limited powered land to complex permitting, gas turbine bottlenecks, and volatile energy markets, these challenges are creating a widening gap between growing demand and energy supply. For data center operators racing to meet the needs of AI, cloud, and high-performance-computing workloads, that gap means slower timelines, higher costs, and fewer viable options. We’ve built a platform designed to remove the friction: ✅ Modular systems deploy in under 6 months ✅ No utility interconnect required ✅ Near-zero emissions enable smoother permitting ✅ Compact design supports higher power density ✅ Baseload reliability powers operations 24/7 Our friction-free power is designed for today’s data center needs and built for what’s next. See how we compare to traditional solutions in the chart below. #DataCenters #AIInfrastructure #FuelCellEnergy #FutureReadyEnergy 

The U.S. electric grid is at a turning point, but AI is transforming how utilities manage increasing system stress. With 70% of power lines and transformers over 25 years old and extreme weather pushing demand to record levels, AI tools can help utilities prevent outages and manage increasingly complex systems. Duke Energy Corporation has reduced residential solar interconnection times from months to under 24 hours using cloud-based AI solutions, while Southern California Edison (SCE) can now detect faults with 80% accuracy before blackouts occur. "We are at a rare moment of alignment: the need is urgent, the technology is ready, and the infrastructure to support it is already in place," says AWS Head of Energy & Utilities Howard B. Gefen, noting that AI-enabled grid technologies can help households save up to 15% on energy bills. Read more about how utilities are using AI to modernize critical infrastructure: https://go.aws/4nrOpIB

Cloud solutions are driving better outcomes for the U.S. electric grid, reducing outage times and lowering consumer costs. The rise of #AI is a turning point for the grid that encourages us to rethink how we manage energy supply. Check out Howard B. Gefen's latest opinion article in Fortune.

Some great examples in this article of how AI is helping operators manage grid stress, deal with shortages of trained professional, implement efficient fault detection and improve customer experience. Utilities that embrace AI-enabled digital transformation will be more resilient, responsive, and future ready. #Energy #Infrastructure #AI #Sustainability #FutureOfPower #Innovation

Per my consistent consumption of the All In podcast......... With projects like the Stargate initiative driving multi-gigawatt AI infrastructure into Texas, the scale of power needed is staggering. We are seeing proposals for 1GW+ data center campuses—each requiring the power of a small city. This new reality requires a new approach: Dedicated, robust, and resilient power infrastructure "behind the meter." I am actively investigating the economics and engineering of delivering these high-density, on-site power solutions for developments in the Texas and surrounding markets. The challenge is complex—balancing speed of deployment (gas turbines, co-gen) with long-term sustainability goals (hydrogen, SMRs, renewables + storage). The next great competitive advantage in data center development won't be land or fiber—it will be secure, reliable, and scalable power. Who else sees BTM solutions as the new prerequisite for any large-scale data center project? Care to discuss potential collaborative efforts? #Gigawatt #AI #Hyperscale #DataCenterPower #ERCOTGrid #BehindTheMeter

ICYMI - interesting paper from Avanza Energy's Christopher Johnson about the shift towards onsite power generation in data centers - in large part driven by the supply chain shortage in gas turbines. Lots of innovation going on here by AI data center companies as unprecedented market conditions arise along with exciting new onsite technologies. We, of course, are partial to this line: "Mainspring Energy represents the next evolution with linear generator technology that eliminates the rotating machinery plaguing traditional engines." We also concur with his conclusion that "Tomorrow's power infrastructure is being built today." Thanks for the shout-out! Read the full paper in Substack: https://lnkd.in/g_4c4MKG #energyresilience #AI #datacenters #speedtopower #onsitepower

As the U.S. Data-center network strains under rising megawatt demands and Commercial & Industrial businesses face growing gaps in reliable power, on-site fuel cell systems become a compelling solution. Fuel cells offer modular scalability. Particularly Bloom Energy's architecture is inherently modular. They can be deployed in a fraction of the time of large turbine or grid infrastructure. You can start with a few megawatts today and expand in increments as load grows, so you match power growth to data-center demand rather than overshoot. PLUS, Fuel cells flex across fuels: natgas/ biogas/hydrogen - scaling power without scaling emissions. And as we serve a broad spectrum of customers from Oracle and CoreWeave to American Electric Power. And from Walmart, The Home Depot to Honda, Caltech, Kaiser Permanente, and FedEx, we understand the evolving needs of data centers, C&I, and utilities alike, and are scaling our own production to meet that demand. #OnsitePower #Microgrids #PowerResiliency #PowerForAll #CleanPower #BloomEnergy #ProudToBeBloomEner

Is the AI boom straining our power grid? With data centers at risk of not being guaranteed electricity during power emergencies, the call for them to "bring your own generation" is growing louder. Nostromo Energy’s IceBrick system helps data centers do exactly that. By storing cold energy on-site, it acts as a behind-the-meter generation for the largest cooling energy load. This allows data centers to reduce their reliance on the grid and ensure operational resilience, especially during peak demand and potential outages. Nostromo helps data centers take control of their energy, making them more resilient and less reliant on a fragile grid. https://lnkd.in/dD5ku4Np #DataCenters #ThermalEnergyStorage #Sustainability #EnergyStorage