3 strategies for carbon-free data centers

Because of the strain that data centers (as well as other electrification sources, such as electric vehicles) are putting on the grid, “the data center industry needs to develop new power supply strategies to support growth plans,” Dietrich said.

Here are the underling factors that play into the three strategies outlined by Uptime.

Scale creates new opportunities: It’s not just that more data centers are being built, but the data centers under construction are fundamentally different in terms of sheer magnitude. For example, a typical enterprise data center might require between 10 and 25 megawatts of power. Today, the hyperscalers are building data centers in the 250-megawatt range and a large data center campus could require 1,000 megawatts of power.

Data centers not only require a reliable source of power, they also require backup power in the form of generators. Dietrich pointed out that if a data center operator builds out enough backup capacity to support 250 megawatts of demand, they’re essentially building a new, on-site power plant.

On the one hand, that new power plant requires permitting, it’s costly, and it requires highly training staffers to operate. On the other hand, it provides an opportunity. Instead of letting this asset sit around unused except in an emergency, organizations can leverage these power plants to generate energy that can be sold back to the grid. Dietrich described this arrangement as a win-win that enables the data center to generate revenue, and it helps the utility to gain a new source of power.

Realistic expectations: Alternative energy sources like wind and solar, which are dependent on environmental factors, can’t technically or economically supply 100% of data center power, but they can provide a significant percentage of it. Organizations need to temper their expectations, Dietrich said.