The state of play of data center development

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Jun 12, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Chris Sharp, Chief Technology Officer of Digital Realty, shares insights on the evolving landscape of data centers. He delves into how AI's demands create 'data gravity' and influence infrastructure development. The conversation covers the balancing act between large builds and incremental improvements, the reality behind power needs versus hype, and the role of 'bridge power' in today's energy landscape. Sharp emphasizes the critical interplay between data center innovation and the future grid, addressing emerging challenges in a rapidly changing tech environment.

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INSIGHT

Training vs. Inference Data Center Needs

AI workloads bifurcate into training and inference, affecting data center location choices.
Training is flexible with location; inference demands proximity for latency and throughput.

INSIGHT

Data Gravity Shapes AI Centers

Data gravity and data oceans attract compute infrastructure, concentrating AI workloads.
AI inference is clustering near existing data centers and clouds due to ecosystem needs.

INSIGHT

Power Limits Data Center Growth

Power availability is often the first constraint in major data center markets like Northern Virginia.
Utility grid distribution, not just generation, limits capacity requiring new solutions.

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The future of the grid increasingly hinges on where and how data centers get built. To forecast the kind of power infrastructure we need to meet AI’s growing appetite, we first need to understand a laundry list of variables: data center size, workload type, latency, reliability — even the variety of a data center’s coolant system.

So what’s the state of play in data center development today — and how are the trends shaping grid needs?

In this episode, Shayle talks to Chris Sharp, chief technology officer of Digital Realty, a developer, owner and operator of data centers. They cover topics like:

How AI inference workloads are clustering in existing regions, driven by latency and throughput requirements

“Data gravity” and “data oceans”: how large concentrations of data attract more compute infrastructure

What’s driving longer lead times: interconnection delays, equipment bottlenecks, or both?

Large-scale builds vs. incremental additions and densification of existing infrastructure

“Braggawatts” vs. real demand: separating hype from reality

The diverging power needs of training vs. inference, and whether any workloads work with intermittent power

The evolving role of “bridge power” and why diesel and gas are still in the mix

Resources:

Latitude Media: Google’s new data center model signals a massive market shift

Latitude Media: The future of energy-first data centers takes shape

Latitude Media: Can a new coalition turn data centers into grid assets?

Latitude Media: Do microgrids make sense for data centers?

The New York Times: Wall St. Is All In on A.I. Data Centers. But Are They the Next Bubble?

Catalyst: The case for colocating data centers and generation

Credits: Hosted by Shayle Kann. Produced and edited by Daniel Woldorff. Original music and engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is executive editor.

Catalyst is brought to you by Anza, a platform enabling solar and storage developers and buyers to save time, reduce risk, and increase profits in their equipment selection process. Anza gives clients access to pricing, technical, and risk data plus tools that they’ve never had access to before. Learn more at go.anzarenewables.com/latitude.

Catalyst is brought to you by EnergyHub. EnergyHub helps utilities build next-generation virtual power plants that unlock reliable flexibility at every level of the grid. See how EnergyHub helps unlock the power of flexibility at scale, and deliver more value through cross-DER dispatch with their leading Edge DERMS platform, by visiting energyhub.com.