WS1: Grid Informed Flexible Data Center Designs

Workstream 1 (WS1) focuses on advancing data center flexibility, addressing three major objectives: 

  1. To provide a structure to understanding the needs for flexibility and the means by which flexibility may be developed to support data center grid integration
  2. To improve the guidance available to data center designers on how flexibility may be enhanced through the data center development process
  3. To demonstrate innovative solutions such as backup generation, alternative fuels, and energy storage—and thoroughly assesses the impacts on power quality, reliability, and emissions—through real-world field trials.

Flexibility and Innovation in Data Center Design

As the digital society and economy grows, the data center infrastructure that underpins those services is rapidly scaling. As data centers grow in scale and significance, their role in supporting a flexible, reliable, and sustainable grid becomes increasingly critical.

DCFlex Workstream 1 focuses on Flexible Data Center Design investigating the needs for flexibility, the capabilities that may enable it and understand the extent to how it can be delivered.

Through a combination of leading modelling, analysis and real-world demonstrations, the workstream will inform across industries on leading practices to incorporate flexibility by design, on the performance of flexibility enhancing technologies and lessons from implementation across the globe. 

Workstream Deliverables

Grid Flexibility Needs and Data Center Characteristics

This publicly-accessible white paper takes a first step toward developing a common understanding of flexibility between power providers, grid operators, and data center stakeholders

Workstream 1 Leads

Irene Danti Lopez

Irene
Danti Lopez

Sr Technical Leader (WS1 Co-Lead)

Eamonn Lannoye

Eamonn
Lannoye

Sr Program Manager (WS1 Co-Lead)

Baskar Vairamohan

Baskar
Vairamohan

Program Manager (WS1 Co-Lead)

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