Evaluating mixed energy resources to meet dynamic power demand of data centers

With U.S. data center loads expected to double or even triple by 2028, power providers and utilities are preparing to build out new generation to meet this soaring demand.

The National Laboratory of the Rockies' (NLR's) Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) platform can simulate the tricky details of large, dynamic loads and identify strategies to better meet power requirements.

Using ARIES to faithfully replicate a real-world environment, researchers demonstrated a fully operational test grid containing data center loads and several types of power generation. They analyzed the electrical behavior of data centers using measurements from a large U.S. data services provider and studied how a mix of resources can supply that demand.

The challenge with loads like data centers is that energy demand can swing substantially in a second. This creates torsional strain for any on-site turbines, which are not suited for rapid start-and-stop power. That means more wear and tear on turbine-based generators, leading to high maintenance costs and early retirements.

To address this challenge, the team supplemented the spinning generation with batteries and fuel cells. They found that these faster-response resources could handle rapid load swings from the data center while the turbines supplied a steady baseload.

This simulation was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Electricity, but ARIES is highly customizable—any partner can create a scaled-down replica of their own system.

Industry is invited to use the same ARIES capabilities for their own real-world validations. Find out how.

Provided by National Renewable Energy Laboratory