Dispatchable power: how data centre microgrids can accelerate Europe’s energy transition

Data centres have long been labelled as energy guzzlers with a growing carbon footprint. However, new research suggests that these digital behemoths can be part of a solution that actually reduces grid infrastructure spending and wasted energy.

In the latest episode of the Energy Transitions podcast, Pamela Largue speaks to Ben Pritchard, CEO of AVK, and Malin Östman, Vice President, Strategy & Business Development at Wärtsilä Energy, about how this can be achieved and the role that data centre microgrids can play as a scalable, practical solution to power constraints and grid instability.

Pritchard and Östman elaborate on AVK and Wärtsilä’s new research paper, Data centre dispatchable capacity: a major opportunity for Europe’s energy transition, which models different energy scenarios for powering data centres, and provides insights into the optimal configuration of renewables, batteries, and dispatchable engines.

In this episode, you will learn more about:

• Why data centres can’t be uncoupled from the energy transition,
• The impact of growing energy demand from AI and data centres,
• How microgrids can support both data centre operations and broader grid needs,
• Modelling the superior configuration of power mixes: unpacking scenarios with engines, renewables and batteries,
• How to ensure a cost-effective approach that reduces emissions without relying on future technologies that aren’t yet scalable,
• How policymakers, investors, and operators can act on these findings to turn data centres from power consumers into contributors to energy stability.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with AVK, the largest and fastest-growing supplier of innovative power solutions for data centres across the UK and Europe.

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Listen to previous episodes:

Taking solar steps for women in Ukraine
New energy system rules for the Supergrid era
Applying grid resilience lessons from Spain's blackout 

Read more from our guests:

Building sustainable energy for the future of data centres
How data centres can make better neighbours
The global energy transition is a collaboration, not a competition' says Wartsila's Malin Östman