Moving away from a centralised grid solution
Today ’ s power grids are already vulnerable to disruptions stemming from the
TJ Surbella , Strategic Planning Director , AspenTech
increasingly complex and dynamic nature of renewable generation and grid storage , climate events , ageing infrastructure , cyberthreats and geopolitical tensions . These factors challenge the traditional uni-directional generation and distribution grids to reliably adapt to support data centres ' rapidly expanding needs .
This strain is particularly evident across parts of Europe , where grid stability risks deteriorating under intensifying demand and increasing the proportion of dynamic wind and solar generation needing to be transmitted at a distance to population centres .
For data centre operators , dependence on centralised grids has now become risky and costly . In some areas , utilities are unable to guarantee meeting the load demand of new data centres leading to their delay or cancellation altogether . Data centre operators , who see big opportunity but face operational risk from even occasional outages and who face rising energy costs across Europe , are exploring alternative options to meet their energy needs with an increasing sense of urgency .
Microgrids are self-sufficient energy systems that can operate alongside or autonomously of the main grid . They enable data centres to generate and manage their power locally concurrently with power supplied by the grid , increase electricity availability as well as contribute to the resilience of the adjoining power grid .
By reducing reliance on regional grids , microgrids provide data centres with greater control over energy use , supporting operational resilience , cybersecurity , the ability to address decarbonisation requirements and economic benefit . During grid outages , an effective microgrid can anticipate and react in real-time to the event and ‘ island ’ itself , enabling the data centre to continue operating without interruption . Therefore , large data centre developers are turning to low-carbon captive generation , renewables and microgrids as a kind of package solution to achieve faster permitting and approval of data centre projects .
Cue a strategic solution
For data centres , the benefits of microgrids are clear . They include
accelerated schedules for bringing new facilities online , ensuring uninterrupted power for AI and business-critical computations , optimising energy utilisation and bolstering resilience , sustainability and economics . By generating power on-site , data centres reduce dependence on the oftenincreasingly complicated dynamics of grid-supplied electricity , minimise costs associated with peak-demand pricing and bid excess electricity back into the grid .
When exploring the installation of their own generation assets , customers typically focus on electricity price , reliability and carbon footprint – in that order . On-site conventional and renewable energy sources as well as Power Purchase Agreements ( PPAs ) are often the trigger of the desire to address this with a microgrid .
Advanced microgrids increase the efficiency of renewable energy integration , enable the tracking of green power content and align operations with sustainability goals . Renewable energy sources are intermittent and weather-dependent , which creates challenges , particularly when utility power is unavailable for extended periods . To ensure reliable power , facilities need to incorporate lower-emission generators , such as those powered by natural gas , green hydrogen fuel cells , or battery storage as a backup source to meet demand .
Microgrid customers will find that they face the kind of challenges traditionally managed by utilities : balancing electrical generation with load demand . On the generation side , this might include
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