Optimize Data Center Operational
Flexibility to Help Strengthen the Grid
The demand for energy to power data centers is increasing, largely driven by the rapid expansion of AI. EPRI’s DCFlex Initiative will demonstrate how data centers can support and stabilize the electric grid while improving interconnection and efficiency.
The initiative will drive a shift creating a blueprint for data center stakeholders, utilities, market operators, technology innovators, and policymakers to adopt. The initiative aims to deploy five to ten large-scale flexibility hubs, each a living laboratory demonstrating innovative strategies for integrating data centers with the grid under various conditions to facilitate widespread adoption and replication.
To learn more and to join us, contact Anuja Ratnayake: aratnayake@epri.com
EPRI has expanded the DCFlex initiative internationally
The collaborative effort—with Google, Meta, NVIDIA, and various utilities as founding members—now includes France-based RTE and Schneider Electric, Amsterdam-based ING, and PPC Group, based in Athens, Greece. Demonstration deployments will begin in the first half of 2025.
Powering Intelligence: AI & Data Center Energy Consumption
According to a recent study released by EPRI, data centers could consume up to 9% of U.S. electricity generation by 2030—more than double the amount currently used.
Utility Experiences and Trends Regarding Data Centers
Providing power for data centers is a growing challenge for the electric power industry. This report summarizes a industry survey to assess present utility data center service requests, processing, and integration into load forecasting.
DCFlex: Data Center Flexible Load Initiative
EPRI's Data Center Flexible Load Initiative (DCFlex) aims to demonstrate how data centers can support and stabilize the electric grid while improving interconnection and efficiency.
DCFlex Brochure
The Initiative will drive a shift creating a blueprint for data center stakeholders, utilities, market operators, technology innovators, and policymakers to adopt.
INITIATIVE MEMBERS
FROM THE MEMBERS
Electric utility providers need to take a leading, active role in determining the impact AI and data centers will have on our energy supply. The New York Power Authority has joined the DCFlex initiative to work with other energy sector leaders to support innovation, plan for the grid of the future, and address key issues such as power consumption, energy efficiency, and carbon emissions.
Justin E. Driscoll, President & CEO New York Power Authority
Data center loads present interesting challenges and opportunities for grid planning, operations, and markets. DCFlex will provide an important forum for discussion on these topics as it brings all the stakeholders together towards successful data center integration into the grid.
Venkat Tirupati, Vice President, DevOps and Grid Transformation ERCOT
AI can help solve the world’s greatest problems, and to enable this, NVIDIA is committed to our leadership in providing the highest performance per watt for AI computing infrastructure, The DCFlex initiative is another example of how industry leaders can leverage data centers as a flexible resource on the grid to help address peak loads.
Marc Spieler, head of global business development and strategy for the energy industry at NVIDIA
Meta is committed to efficient data center operations matched by 100 percent clean and renewable energy. But we know this work cannot be done alone — we continue to work alongside our peers and utility providers to advance new opportunities for digital infrastructure. Efforts like EPRI’s DCFlex initiative are critical to these cross-industry efforts.
Bryce Dalley, director of Commercial Energy Supply at Meta.
At Google, we see this moment as a generational opportunity for the public and private sector to work together to meet energy demand responsibly and unlock significant benefits for people, the economy and the planet, Through the leadership, expertise, and convening power of EPRI, DCFlex will be an important collaboration vehicle to align our common goals, as we work together to build a stronger electrical grid for all.
Caroline Golin, global head of Energy Market Development and Innovation at Google
As a nation, we cannot afford to fall behind on AI. We need to invest in sustainable infrastructure to support big data applications, but not at the expense of other consumers of electricity, Compass is working collaboratively with our utility partners on planning and grid expansion, and glad to invest in EPRI’s research to bring forward long-term solutions.
Chris Crosby, Compass Datacenters CEO
New electric demand from AI-driven data centers offers tremendous potential for all our customers in California, DCFlex is exactly the kind of collaboration needed to ensure we meet this demand in ways that also help us provide clean, affordable, and reliable energy for all.
Patti Poppe, PG&E Corporation CEO
Data centers are integral to our daily lives, economy, and national security. Our energy system is built to handle the extreme demands of our hottest summer days and coldest winter nights but is often underutilized. The real challenge isn't a lack of energy for data centers but managing the peak demand hours. The ability of data centers to flex during these critical periods is crucial, We commend EPRI for launching this initiative and bringing together key industry representatives to meet growing data center power demands, enhance grid reliability, and advance the clean energy transition.
Joe Dominguez, Constellation President and CEO
As we serve our customers and meet their rapidly changing needs around reliability, affordability, and sustainability, we believe load growth from data centers presents a crucial opportunity to bring together stakeholders across the power and technology sectors to help solve some of the most complex grid management issues, Vistra is pleased to invest in EPRI’s DCFlex initiative and looks forward to working with other innovative companies to answer the call in ways that advance our national and regional interests and ensure the grid is reliable for all customers.
Jim Burke, president and CEO of Vistra
Georgia Transmission is excited to be part of this collaborative effort. As a cooperative, we believe that challenges are best solved together. As we look to the future, the demand for safe, reliable and cost-effective electricity will only continue to grow. Participating in initiatives like EPRI DC Flex helps to ensure we continue to leverage and explore the best technological solution to deliver on our commitments to our members.
Barbara Hampton, Georgia Transmission President and CEO
As the demand for grid connections from hyperscalers grows exponentially in France, RTE must match the electric consumption of their algorithms with the power system constraints to accelerate the connection process. Full-scale experimentations of DC-flex project will demonstrate the technical feasibility of datacenter flexibility solutions and will guide innovative grid connection solutions.
Xavier Piechaczyk, President of the Managing Board, RTE
The energy and technology industries are becoming ever more interlinked and interdependent in the new era of decentralized-flexible energy generation, exponential data growth, and AI. At PPC Group, an energy provider entering the connectivity and data center business, we are proud to join the DCFlex initiative as we continue to advance Greece’s energy and digital future. We look forward to collaborating with other forward-thinking companies, and together, develop the innovative solutions that will power the exciting data-driven future.
Georgios Stassis, Chairman and CEO at PPC Group
As a generation cooperative serving members with growing electricity demands, Oglethorpe Power is committed to grid reliability and efficiency. EPRI’s DCFlex initiative fosters vital collaboration among industry leaders, strengthening our ability to deliver reliable and affordable power in a fast-paced and evolving industry.
Annalisa Bloodworth, President and CEO, Oglethorpe Power
The growth of AI brings many critical opportunities and challenges to the electricity grid. We are excited to bring the ISO’s spirit of creativity and innovation to the DC Flex initiative.
Elliot Mainzer, President and CEO of California ISO
We are proud to be the first global financial institution to join DCFlex and to play a leading role in shaping the solutions necessary to ensure electric grid stability and sustainable growth of the data center sector. We are committed to supporting our clients' sustainability ambitions, not just in financing existing initiatives, but also using our cross-sector expertise and global network to partner to solve real-world challenges.
Mark Pieter de Boer, Global Head of Sector Coverage and Chief Commercial Officer, ING
At Schneider Electric, we are on a mission to help our partners design, build, and operate data centers and power systems optimized for sustainability and the good of society and the planet. EPRI’s DCFlex initiative will be a tremendous catalyst for progress in developing and testing new technologies, frameworks, and operational models. The collaboration between leading data center operators, utilities, and other stakeholders will be critical to solving these problems, and we are thrilled to be participating.
Steve Carlini, Chief Advocate, AI and Data Center, Vice President at Schneider Electric
At Exelon, we understand that supporting the rapid growth of data centers requires strategic planning and collaboration. Through our partnership with EPRI, we are working alongside industry leaders to develop innovative solutions that balance energy demand with grid reliability. By sharing insights and advancing best practices, we are collectively driving progress to support the expansion of data center infrastructure across the U.S. while maintaining our commitment to reliable and affordable energy for all customers.
Sunny Elebua, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer, Exelon