U.K. Data Centers Turning to Gas Amid Grid Delays

Fossil fuels will supply more than 50% of data centre power globally until 2030. With more than 85 gas-fired power facilities being developed around the world to meet AI's burgeoning demands, a rush for speedy energy access is trumping tech groups' professed enthusiasm for cutting carbon dioxide emissions. This is the AI energy paradox - because it is simultaneously being used to improve energy efficiency across industries, accelerate renewable energy integration and make power grids more resilient. Balancing the incredible advancement that AI brings, with the sheer demand for electricity it requires, will be one of the biggest challenges/opportunities for the energy and tech industries over the next decade. I'm equally excited and terrified... https://lnkd.in/eikUwyz8

It's true that power prices have already started to rise nationwide mostly because of the cost of grid repairs, spiking demand from AI data centers, and volatile costs for natural gas, which provides 40% of power generation. https://lnkd.in/efrmdDBK

Energy industry experts are raising awareness that the explosive electricity demand - "load growth" - utilities are currently experiencing can't be met by grid expansion alone. Adaptive, dynamic grid management technologies will be needed to proactively manage load across the grid, especially in energy growth areas like Texas, where the proliferation of data centers and other large load customers is leading to changes in both state government policy and business strategy. Read more: 🔗https://ow.ly/KIOj50WSf5L #LoadGrowth #GridManagement #EnergyInnovation #TexasEnergy #FactorThis

Energy industry experts are raising awareness that the explosive electricity demand - "load growth" - utilities are currently experiencing can't be met by grid expansion alone. Adaptive, dynamic grid management technologies will be needed to proactively manage load across the grid, especially in energy growth areas like Texas, where the proliferation of data centers and other large load customers is leading to changes in both state government policy and business strategy. Read more: 🔗https://ow.ly/oWB250WSf5M #LoadGrowth #GridManagement #EnergyInnovation #TexasEnergy #FactorThis

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝘀. Why? ➡️ Grid queues are years long, not months. ➡️ Interconnection studies are backlogged. ➡️ Curtailment risk is rising. Natural gas is the difference between getting capacity and getting left behind. It’s the bridge fuel that will determine who gets capacity, and who doesn’t. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀: 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵, 𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲? #DataCenters #NaturalGas #EnergyStrategy #AIFuture #EnergyNinja

Thank you to SME and #EnergyNinja Ralph Rodriguez, LEED AP OM, for articulating the critical message around powering data centers. Natural gas platforms—through thoughtful design—can meet attainment zone requirements while offering exceptional scalability. With the risks posed by TX SB6, the case for natural gas becomes even stronger. And when (or if) utilities deliver the required capacity in likely no less than 2031, shifting natural gas from prime power to backup is a logical step to ensure continuity of operations. The larger challenge besides the technical personnel that are needed to operate and maintain reciprocating engines and turbines, is that reputable turnkey behind-the-meter power providers are quickly selling out of high-quality OEM equipment. For data center developers and hyperscalers, the path forward is clear: secure base power contracts early, then manage balance-of-load needs as final load profiles come into focus.

When a disturbance occurs in the grid, frequency stability is critical. The chart below illustrates the different stages of frequency response — and where Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) can play a key role: 🔴 Inertial Response (0–10 sec) Traditional generators provide inertia. BESS can emulate synthetic inertia, reacting within milliseconds. 🟢 Primary Frequency Control (0–60 sec) BESS delivers fast active power control to stabilize frequency around f_nadir. Supports slow contingency FCAS and governor response. 🔵 Secondary Frequency Control (1–15 min) Automatic dispatch to restore frequency back to 50 Hz. BESS provides precise regulation with rapid ramping. ⚙️ Why BESS? Unlike conventional generation, batteries can inject or absorb power instantly, making them indispensable for modern grids with high renewable penetration. In short, BESS bridges the gap between disturbance and full recovery, keeping the grid stable, resilient, and future-ready. #BESS #FrequencyControl #GridStability #EnergyStorage #SmartGrid #RenewablesIntegration

Improving transmission infrastructure isn't just about keeping the lights on; it's about keeping America competitive. Building our domestic supply chains for advanced energy grid technologies like #AECC conductors is essential to ensure we are able to meet rising energy demand, deliver new sources of power generation, and ultimately propel the American economy forward. TS Conductor, an American company, is investing in domestic manufacturing with our new South Carolina facility, which will create hundreds of well-paying jobs and ready-to-deploy transmission infrastructure. Read more in my latest piece in Energy Central: https://lnkd.in/gWxY7uzi  

Lower costs. Lower emissions. Same reliability. On-site natural gas generation is rewriting the power equation for data centers, delivering cost savings as natural gas prices have fallen from $8.50 per MBTU in the early 2000s to under $4 today, and cutting emissions to about half the U.S. grid average with waste heat capture. The result: a smaller carbon footprint, stable long-term power costs, and guaranteed uptime. GPC Infrastructure makes it turnkey, scalable, and ready for the workloads of tomorrow. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e24xMWK4  #GPCInfrastructure #PowerSolutions #DataCenterEnergy

https://lnkd.in/gvh5nivc Data centers are pulling power like cities. Utilities can’t outbuild this surge with steel and concrete alone. Resiliency now depends on intelligence. A.I. is the lever for forecasting volatility, predicting stress points, and automating response at scale. Without it, the grid stays reactive. With it, the grid becomes adaptive. This is no longer just an engineering problem, it is a strategic one. Utilities that embed A.I. into planning and operations will be the ones ready for a digital and decarbonized energy economy. #GridModernization #EnergyResilience #ArtificialIntelligence #EnergyAndUtilities #DigitalTransformation #Sustainability #UtilityInnovation