Until recently, data centers have been fully connected to the grid while having a backup power system in place, typically in the form of diesel generators. That’s changing. 

Grids are under more stress than ever before and are no longer able to meet the demands of these facilities. Data centers are choosing to go off-grid now, and they’re relying less on diesel and more on natural gas microgrids to help them succeed.

The New Trend and How It Began

Data centers require continuous operations, which solar microgrids just can’t provide. To get the support they need, many have begun turning to microgrids that work with renewable natural gas, fossil fuels, and energy storage systems. 

The problem prompting this move toward microgrids is the failure of regional grids to meet peak demands. These are typically a few hundred hours a year, and the grid system just doesn’t have the resources to keep up, resulting in service gaps that data centers can’t afford and that they can’t get air permits for their diesel gensets to cover.

According to Thomas McAndrew, founder of Texas-based renewable gas microgrid manufacturer Enchanted Rock, “Microgrids can quickly and cost-effectively provide the bridge power that data centers need to come online and then repurpose the microgrid to provide valuable backup power and support the grid during periods of peak power needs.”

It may even be possible for data centers to maintain grid interconnection if they unplug during those peak demand periods during the year. 

Working With Utilities Providers

Energy providers are already agreeing to this arrangement, offering interconnection for moments of power interruption. Data centers can bridge that gap using their microgrids. 

To demonstrate the viability of this trend, Microsoft is working with Enchanted Rock to create a 100-megawatt microgrid for what’ at the time was intended to be the largest data center in California. This microgrid will use renewable energy to offset its natural gas requirement, injecting renewable natural gas into the grid.

Through such innovations, Enchanted Rock aims to help California reach its renewable resource goals while allowing businesses like Microsoft to continue working without costly power interruptions.   

Moving Beyond Industrial Applications

Until now, microgrids have mostly been used in commercial ventures. However, California is proposing to use them for residential neighborhoods. The state has even launched a Microgrid Incentive Program with the goal of bringing large microgrids to tribal and disadvantaged communities to offset the outages they often experience. 

The Microgrid Incentive Program allocates $79.2 million for Pacific Gas & Electric, as well as various amounts to other energy providers. So far, the investor-led incentives are focused on community projects rather than single homes.

Renewable gas microgrids are poised to transform data centers and other high-energy-usage industries. They can remove a significant amount of stress from the grid system without impacting how these industries operate. In effect, they offer long-term energy resilience that companies can depend on.

Read more about these developments in the original article at Microgrid Knowledge.