Thought Leadership
Thought Leadership Pieces
The landscape for energy-data center nexus is constantly evolving. Stay informed on trends and engage with the EPRI community leading the change.
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Power-Flexible AI Factories: A UK-First Demonstration of Grid-Responsive AI Infrastructure
EPRI, Emerald AI, National Grid, Nebius, and NVIDIA conducted a live, UK-first demonstration at Nebius’s new AI Factory in London to demonstrate that high-performance AI infrastructure can operate as a power-flexible, grid-responsive asset without disrupting mission-critical workloads.
Powering Intelligence 2026: Updated Scenarios of U.S. Data Center Electricity Use and Power Strategies
This paper examines how rapid growth in data centers, AI, industrial onshoring, and electrification is reshaping electricity demand and creating significant, highly localized challenges for power systems. The paper presents updated projections showing that data centers could consume a much larger sh
Balancing Speed and Affordability: The NIPSCO GenCo Model for Hyperscale Load Growth
This document examines an emerging utility–affiliate model used by Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) to serve substantial new data center load while addressing concerns related to cost allocation, regulatory timelines, and customer protection. The analysis outlines the drivers of hype
Win-Win Watts: When Can Data Centers, Efficient Electrification, and New Loads Lower Electricity Prices?
This paper synthesizes economic theory, recent empirical and modeling evidence, and emerging tariff designs to clarify the conditions under which load growth can support affordability for existing customers while enabling investments in clean, reliable infrastructure.
Quick Insight - DOE's Section 403 Letter Explained: Large Load Interconnection
This document provides a concise overview of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Section 403 letter and its implications for large load interconnection within the electric grid. It explains the regulatory context, technical considerations, and potential impacts on utilities and large energy consum
Quick Insight - NERC Reliability Guideline: Risk Mitigation for Emerging Large Loads
This document summarizes the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) guideline on Risk Mitigation for Emerging Large Loads, focusing on the reliability challenges posed by data centers, cryptocurrency mining, hydrogen electrolyzers, and other power-intensive facilities. These loads in
Reconciling the Value of Grid Interconnection and Speed to Power
This paper evaluates four broad strategies for powering new data centers globally. Currently, the dominant approach is Grid-Connected Inflexible where grid power is available on the required timeline. However, where there are significant grid constraints, three alternative strategies are emerging: G
White Paper - Integrating Data Centers into the Grid: Benefits of Flexibility and Strategic Siting
This study explores how strategic siting and load flexibility can accelerate data center integration while maintaining system stability. Using a stylized Texas grid model for 2030, we assess hosting capacity under different transmission and siting scenarios and evaluate four flexibility archetypes.
Integral- Large Load Flexibility Classification to Unlock Connection
Loads have limited visibility of the value its load flexibility can bring, making design for flexibility complex or undervalued. At the same time, electric utilities don’t have a common framework to recognize load flexibility’s value in decision making. Integral is a proposal for a universal, large
Infographic: AI Knowledge Factory
AI is evolving as not just a computational tool, but as a Knowledge Factory reshaping every sector in our global economy. We must frame our thinking from a different perspective- AI’s potential to drive significant GDP growth with remarkable energy efficiency. We continue to explore not just t
Infographic: Significant Compute Need for GenAI Infographic
Exponential computational need for AI starting in 2017. Mostly power is used to train the model. What we will do with the model, we still do not know.
Infographic: AI's Growth Curve Isn't Just Computational - It's Electrical
Jevon’s Paradox is the observation that even as technological advancements lead to efficiencies, technology is still consumed more. Will we be able to meet demand growth associated with AI despite efficiency gains in training the models?
Infographic: AI Is Evolving Before Our Eyes
In just five years, we move from cat level knowledge, to baby, to graduate student. Right now, AI is book smart. Where is this going? Knowledge AI, to Digital Workforce, to Physical AI.
Infographic: AI Revenue Evolution Moving Faster Than You Think
The way we have produced, regulated, and delivered power will have to change for this revolution.
Infographic: What History Tells Us About the Next Trillion Dollar Wave
Will the bubble burst? There are booms and busts associated with AI growth. History has many examples including the “fiber boom”- fiber was built but not used aka “dark fiber”. Historically there has been a pause between building infrastructure and application’s potential. AI’s curve appears to be
Infographic: Data Centers, Your New Grid Ally
EPRI’s DCFlex Initiative aims to demonstrate how data centers can support and stabilize the electric grid while improving interconnection and efficiency.
Infographic: De-Risking AI Infrastructure
Novel regulatory, financing, and policy innovations to meet demand and need for speed. Regulatory innovations focus on protecting the rate payers.
Infographic: Speed to Connect and Emerging Regulatory Guidance
Oct 23, 2025 - Department of Energy asked FERC to get in to streamlining interconnection. A landmark shift- recognition of need for speed and affordability or demand will go somewhere else.