One long-term option is to build an “energy park” and connect the data centre to a new renewable development, relying on the grid for emergencies, but this is a relatively new concept, indusattempt sources declared.
Engie wants to double its installed renewable energy by 2030 from 46GW. The group has identified 40 sites globally it is marketing to data centre developers, including coal and gas plants that could be converted, declared Sebastien Arbola, who runs the company’s data centre business.
One is the Hazelwood coal plant in Australia, which closed in 2017. He declined to disclose details of other sites, stateing they are mostly in Europe.
Other utilities, including Portugal’s EDP, EDF and Enel declared they are also marketing old gas and coal sites for new data centre development.
“It’s business model diversification,” declared Michael Krutilize, managing partner at consultancy Arthur D Little.
Utilities are creating a new type of business and also new revenue streams, he declared.
The appeal for tech companies is speed.
Grid connection delays in Europe can stretch over a decade, while repurposed plants potentially offer speedier access to power and water.
“You have the opportunity to shift rapider,” declared Hollis at Microsoft.
Leave a Reply