At infra/STRUCTURE 2024, held on September 25-26, 2024 at the Wynn Las Vegas, experts gathered to discuss the future of on-site power generation for data centers, focusing on nuclear and alternative energy sources. The panel, moderated by Daniel Golding, CTO of ASG, featured insights from Jeff Barber, Vice President-Global Data Centers of Bloom Energy; Brian Gitt, Head of Business Development with Oklo; and Jamie Smith, COO of RPower.
Future Outlook
Brian Gitt predicted that self-generation will become increasingly necessary for the data center industry. He outlined a scenario where a 500-megawatt data center campus could be operational within 24 months using a combination of technologies.
Jeff Barber stated, “By the late 2020s we’re going to be in a position from a signed power purchase agreement… to have guaranteed price, basically all of the financing, all the permitting, all the building operations, agency commissioning. You’re just buying power.”
Technology Advantages and Challenges
- Fuel Cells:
- Advantage: Quick deployment and scalability
- Challenge: Space requirements, though improving
- Advanced Nuclear:
- Advantage: Clean, scalable power source
- Challenge: Regulatory processes and public perception
- Natural Gas:
- Advantage: Established technology and infrastructure
- Challenge: Emissions concerns
Energy Storage and Renewables
The panel agreed that current energy storage technology is insufficient to fully support renewable energy for data center needs. Brian Gitt noted, “The bigger problem with renewables is not storage. It’s actually just even being able to build… renewables are never going to be able to scale because they’re not able to be built.”
Nuclear Power for Data Centers
There has been a notable shift in the sentiment towards the use of nuclear power for data centers. Brian Gitt addressed safety concerns, stating, “These designs, the public cares about two things… is it safe? And what about the waste? … Technology is 100% safe, and we recycle the waste, so the waste is not an issue.”
Conclusion
As data center power demands continue to grow, a mix of on-site generation technologies, including fuel cells, advanced nuclear, and natural gas, are likely to play crucial roles. While challenges remain, particularly in public perception and regulatory processes, the industry is moving towards more diverse and sustainable power solutions.
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