Datacentre power |
The big move to behind-the-meter
Datacentre developers can no longer just plug into the grid and flick a switch to obtain power. Higher power densities for AI are driving major growth in behind-the-meter (BtM) builds, with new energy storage options, renewables integration and emission mitigation technologies making for more sophisticated and flexible power systems. As facilities get bigger, associated risks rise too, and small errors are magnified. These are complex challenges, and the physics cannot be ignored
Ben Pritchard CEO of AVK
On-site prime power generation is transforming the datacentre industry. A recent survey by Bloom Energy highlighted the sudden rise in the datacentre industry´s approach to microgrids. It found that, faced with lengthening queues for grid connections, datacentre decision makers expect that by 2030, 38% of facilities will have at least some onsite power generation, and 27% of facilities will be 100% independently powered. This is in striking contrast to last year’s survey, which predicted that 13% of facilities would be partially self-powered and 1% fully self-powered by 2030. Where interconnection queues are very long, full BtM builds can be completed before a grid connection
Datacentre power generation system. Image: AVK
becomes available, with timeframes as short as 18-24 months for solar and storage or natural gas. In addition to faster access to power, BtM solutions can contribute to peak shaving. Where a mix of grid and on-site power is required, grid support can accelerate connection times significantly, bringing major business benefits. And microgrids also enable new renewables to be added, filling the gaps in supply when the sun does not shine or the wind does not blow.
Other technological improvements are also coming thick and fast, particularly when it comes to emission management. New low carbon fuels, carbon capture and reuse, better exhaust after treatment for generators, can all be incorporated in the planning concept. These drive down environmental impact, but they all take up space and require detailed calculations.
New skills, new pitfalls This exciting new era requires an additional skillset, which AVK can provide. However, in our experience, power design considerations
are frequently not fully thought through in advance of business cases or planning applications. At the least, this causes inefficiency and slows project commissioning. In some cases it is far worse, requiring wholesale redesign, or causing wrong-sizing of the power overhead, unwanted emissions and financial waste.
Stories illustrating these design issues are widespread. On the power side, they include preliminary designs in which engines are stacked on top of each other, and where CFD (computational fluid dynamics) modelling has not been done, or no provisions made for secondary fluid obligations (alternative onsite fuel storage requirements). These sorts of issues don’t just add millions to construction costs. They require additional consultation and planning submissions and they change the fundamental design. They can lead to component changes, they delay completion, and can also have an impact on reliability/uptime numbers and operational maintainability. The right-sizing of power is also critical to efficiency and environmental
34 | May/June 2026 |
www.modernpowersystems.com
impact. Power requirements can get hugely over-inflated in the name of “future-proofing”. Excessive system redundancy can multiply the energy used by several times. This is inefficient and unsustainable.
Three steps to better design How can these sorts of errors be avoided? Taking a prime gas-powered microgrid design as an example, there are three steps which will give data centre operators peace of mind and enable efficient power design
and delivery: ● Early engagement: Involving someone who understands all the necessities and requirements of an integrated power scheme at the “strategic definition” stage of the project (as defined in the RIBA Plan of Work) is critical. At AVK we will generally field our technical sales team along with our solutions engineers at this stage, to discuss client requirements, project risks, and budgets. They will also undertake initial site appraisals with other team members as
appropriate.Following this assessment
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