Real Estate
Home›Real Estate›Industry›Data centers look to flexible loads amid tighter grid…
Data centers look to flexible loads amid tighter grid power
According to Bisnow, PJM is moving toward connecting new data centers only if they agree to have power curtailed during system stress.
As regional power grids struggle to keep up with rapidly rising electricity demand tied to the artificial intelligence data center boom, momentum is building to reshape data centers as “flexible loads,” meaning they can temporarily reduce power use or disconnect during peak-demand periods, Bisnow reports.
Bisnow says the idea is gaining traction with both power providers and the data center industry and may be mandated in some major data center markets, but industry leaders caution that executing such projects could be difficult in practice.
The outlet notes PJM Interconnection, the United States’ largest power grid, is moving toward connecting only new data centers that agree to have their electricity cut when the system is under stress, while other regions are exploring similar approaches.
Bisnow adds that while there is broad support in principle from technology companies, data center developers, and power providers, developers remain skeptical about whether flexible-load requirements can be implemented smoothly, particularly given the potential for impacts on grid reliability and consumer electricity costs.