EP.216 Power Deliverability Solutions for Data Centers
Oct 22, 2024
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John Mushriqui, co-founder & CEO of InRange Energy, and Chris Pennington, Global Director of Energy and Sustainability at Iron Mountain Data Centers, share their insights on power solutions for data centers. They discuss the challenges of balancing sustainability with increasing digital demands, the strategic use of Behind the Meter generation, and the potential roles of nuclear energy versus renewables. The conversation also touches on AI's future impact on decarbonization and energy management.
InRange Energy seeks to transform energy procurement for data centers by creating a cleaner, accessible energy asset class amid rising demand.
Iron Mountain is redefining sustainability in data center operations by innovating energy sourcing while balancing environmental impacts against digital demands.
Deep dives
Innovative Power Procurement Solutions
InRange Energy is revolutionizing how commercial landlords and data centers procure energy by transforming built environments into clean energy networks. The company recognizes the friction in the traditional energy procurement process and aims to create a new energy asset class that simplifies this process for large buyers like Iron Mountain. By streamlining energy procurement, InRange seeks to make energy not only cleaner but also more accessible and available in shorter time frames. This innovative approach addresses the complexities that arise when conventional utility models fail to keep pace with increasing energy demands from entities such as data centers.
Redefining Sustainability in Data Centers
Iron Mountain is redefining sustainability in the context of its data center operations amidst growing digital demand. The company emphasizes a broader definition of sustainability that not only focuses on preserving natural resources but also on meeting future energy needs without compromising current requirements. As digital demand surges, Iron Mountain has to adapt by innovating how energy is sourced and consumed. The goal is to develop a sustainable data center model that balances energy use with environmental impact, ultimately achieving a circular approach to energy consumption and generation.
Emerging Energy Models and Roadblocks
The current landscape of energy procurement for data centers reveals significant challenges, including the need for reliable, affordable, and clean energy sources. Traditional utility models have lagged in adaptation since the Paris Accord, prompting organizations to seek alternative energy sources directly from renewable projects. However, the rapid increase in energy load often surpasses local utility capabilities, leading to the need for innovative solutions like virtual power plants. These new models democratize energy participation, allowing more businesses and individuals to contribute to energy generation and address the ongoing transition to cleaner energy sources.
Future of Energy Generation and Consumption
The future for behind-the-meter energy generation appears promising, particularly with potential for optimizing local energy resources. There is an acknowledgment that flexible energy generation and consumption strategies are crucial for accommodating the intermittent nature of renewable resources. As technology advances, the integration of tools like AI could help manage and optimize energy loads, turning data centers into more flexible grid resources. The potential for leveraging commercial real estate for energy generation indicates a shift towards a more sustainable energy landscape, emphasizing the necessity for collaboration between energy buyers and providers to capitalize on these opportunities.
In this episode of Energy Unplugged, we are delighted to welcome John Mushriqui, co-founder & CEO of InRange Energy, and Chris Pennington, Global Director of Energy and Sustainability at Iron Mountain Data Centers. They join our Market Lead for New York ISO & ISO New England, Anne Bettiol, to discuss power deliverability solutions for data centers.
John, a lifelong entrepreneur, founded InRange based on his firsthand experience with the challenges of energy procurement processes. Meanwhile, Chris, in his role at Iron Mountain, defines what it means for a data center to be truly sustainable—addressing issues from water use to biodiversity, with clean power as the foundation.
Key topics of discussion include:
The opportunities and challenges data centers face today
How can Behind the Meter (BTM) generation be used strategically to meet data center demand with clean electricity
Nuclear vs renewables regarding BTM generation to meet data center demand