DCFlex Deliverables: Workstream 4

This report introduces a two-part framework for forecasting data center load for planning timescales at higher spatial and temporal resolutions within a region. The first part analyzes the geographic drivers of development, such as land suitability, infrastructure readiness, and local market maturity. The second part focuses on temporal granularity, leveraging historical trends to anticipate short-term variability. Together, these analyses offer a foundation for planning future grid capacity and infrastructure needs.

Regions across the globe are expecting significant load growth from data centers. A prior EPRI white paper presented a framework for forecasting regional data center load growth. This report provides case studies on using the framework to create forecasts for three regions: New York State, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States. The results illustrate how electric system planners can apply the framework using data available from their load interconnection queues and the DCFlex project.

This report provides a library of load shapes for a range of type of data centers. The load shapes were derived from empirical measurements from operational data centers. System planners and load forecasters can use the load shapes directly. Note this is the first version of the load shape library and EPRI plans to refine and expand the library throughout the DCFlex project.

This white paper describes an analysis comparing recently filed U.S. electric company integrated resource plans (IRPs) depicting planned generation supply, with both IRP and EPRI DC-informed load projections. Findings explore how these projections compare and the landscape of existing and planned resources, and recent trends in energy supply to power DCs, opportunities that DC flexibility may afford to the system, and approaches to advance long-term resource planning practices are explored.

This report addresses the rapidly increasing energy demand of data centers (DCs), driven primarily by hyperscale facilities supporting artificial intelligence workloads, with global electricity consumption projected to nearly double by 2026. It evaluates a comprehensive range of energy supply options suitable for DCs over the next 5 to 10 years, focusing on performance, cost, and integration potential.

This report presents a comprehensive analysis of the energy supply chain challenges confronting the rapidly growing data center (DC) sector over the next 5 to 10 years. It examines the increasing demand for electricity and its implications for infrastructure development, technology deployment across energy generators, and the availability of critical grid electrical components.

This report examines critical workforce issues over the next 5 to 10 years on a regional basis, including talent shortages in skilled trade roles, retention difficulties, and the need for apprenticeships and resource allocation to keep pace. Multiple case studies are presented along with feedback from energy suppliers on workforce issues seen in the field. The report assesses the potential implications for DCs and provides recommendations for ways to minimize issues and better prepare to keep DC growth on track.

This report provides an initial perspective on strategies and data to help electric sector planners project regional data center load growth. This working paper is an internal DCFlex project deliverable. The intent is to improve strategies for forecasting over the three years of the project, leveraging the DCFlex community’s diverse knowledge and perspectives.