The data couldn’t be clearer in Bloom Energy’s second annual Data Center Power Report;  data centers are gearing up to rely on their own onsite power sources at a rapid rate. While we may want to take their findings with a grain of salt (Bloom Energy is a Fuel Cell company, after all), we can’t deny that their claims ring true. They state that “over one-third of data centers are expected to use 100% onsite power by 2030.”

We know that US power grids are having a hard time handling current demands, especially in larger cities, or in areas with high industrial demand. When we factor in extreme weather issues that interrupt power, we see an even higher level of uncertainty. On top of that, we are scaling gigawatt data centers at a rapid rate. These match the power consumption of some
mid-sized metropolitan areas!

As they prepare for the future, Data Center developers are seeking out alternative energy sources, now. Generation technologies like mobile turbines, reciprocating engines, and fuel cells top the list, but nuclear technology is also revving up to create additional solutions.

Next-generation data center architectures are also being designed that will minimize power conversion steps, allowing more efficient distribution of generated power.

Data center developers must start planning now for their ever-growing power needs. At Preferred Utilities, our Preferred Power Products are ready to help onsite power source generation. Your generators will need fuel oil solutions to keep running, and your nuclear power will need outage and maintenance support for safe and efficient production. Reach out to find out how Preferred Utilities and Preferred Engineering can help your data center.