Expanding Grid Capacity for Data Centers
Utilities are Facing a “Perfect Storm”
For decades, electricity demand in the U.S. has been fairly predictable and stable.
But a more recent development adds to the “perfect storm” of grid stress: a surge in commercial and industrial (C&I) load, particularly from data centers.
These data centers feed artificial intelligence (AI) applications like chatbots, which, on average, require nearly 10X as much electricity to process an AI-based search as compared to a traditional search engine.
How can utilities continue to work toward decarbonizing the grid, while also managing load growth and unpredictable spikes in demand?
In this guide, we provide an overview of just how large of a challenge this new data center-driven load growth is and how GETs, particularly DLR, are critical tools in the toolbox that can provide the optimization and operational flexibility to meet this challenge.
In This Guide:
What are data centers and how do they impact electricity demand?
What is DLR?
The role of DLR in the digital economy
Examples of DLR: studies from RMI, AES, and the DOE
Case Study: Dominion Energy and Data Center Alley: LineVision and Dominion Energy worked together to expand transmission capacity, and serve ~150 data centers without using fossil generation sources.
Key recommendations for policymakers, utilities, and tech companies
Leading Utilities Trust LineVision
