Data centers don’t have to be a burden on local communities – and can even support them by generating power and repurposing waste heat

Many consumers – and state policymakers and even utility companies – are worried about the possibility of large numbers of data centers raising electricity demand and power prices. Those are real concerns, but our engineering research finds that if designed, constructed and operated carefully, data centers can actually help the communities that host them. On-site energy storage Locating power-generating capacity on-site, even using modified jet engines to drive steam turbines, is one emerging option to address data centers’ high power needs. But there are other options, too. Data centers can install backup batteries that would kick in during an outage or could be used to avoid an outage when demand spikes. The batteries could not only provide power to the data center but also to the surrounding area in times of need. Various types of battery designs and chemistries offer options for storing enough energy to keep a data center running from a few hours to a few days. This would be critical in supplying electricity during outages because of extreme weather events or excess demand on the grid during periods of peak usage. Longer duration batteries are also in development. Plans for a new Google data center in Minnesota…

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