Volts Can data centers be good grid citizens?
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Jul 2, 2025 Jeff Bladen, Head of Energy at Verrus, shares his insights on creating data centers that function well within the electric grid. He discusses how innovative designs, including large-scale batteries, can transform data centers into flexible assets for utilities. The conversation covers challenges imposed by rising AI demands and the importance of energy efficiency. Bladen highlights collaborations aimed at integrating renewable energy and optimizing grid performance, ultimately positioning data centers as key players in sustainable energy solutions.
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AI Data Centers Strain Grids
- The rapid expansion of AI data centers pressures electric grids due to their high energy consumption and inflexibility.
- Flexible data centers could reduce grid burdens and become beneficial partners to utilities.
Innovation Driven by Grid Constraints
- Building grid infrastructure is slow, forcing innovation under constraints.
- Extracting more efficiency from existing grids while expanding data centers is essential.
Microgrid Design Boosts Efficiency
- Verus uses a medium-voltage microgrid design to distribute power dynamically across data center campuses.
- This approach increases efficient power use and allows up to 30% more computing capacity in the same footprint.