With Power Demand 'Far Exceeding' Capacity, What's The Next Move For Data Centers?
It’s estimated that $7T will be invested worldwide into data center infrastructure over the next four years — with more than 40% of that in the United States alone.
Propelled by the advancement of artificial intelligence, commercial real estate’s hottest sector is poised for an era of explosive growth. But to grow and expand at this pace, it’s crucial for owners, developers and end users alike to think about their power usage and storage needs.
By the end of 2024, data centers in the U.S. accounted for almost 5% of total energy consumption. This number is only expected to rise, perhaps as high as 133% by 2030. Worries persist regarding whether the U.S. power infrastructure can withstand this kind of pressure.
That’s why it’s imperative for the industry to set its sights on advancing the reliability and scalability of energy solutions, said Michael Sirard, chief technology officer at MPINarada.
“We’re all trying to solve one core challenge: building reliable, scalable power strategies in an environment where traditional utility models can’t keep pace with demand,” Sirard said. “The future of data center backup and storage is going to vary widely from what we’ve been accustomed to.”
Sirard will speak at Bisnow’s National Data Center Investment Conference and Expo in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 18. Click here to register.
Bisnow spoke with Sirard to learn what the data center landscape looks like today, how power concerns are being addressed and how MPINarada is pushing the industry forward.
Bisnow: How would you describe the current state of the data center market, particularly when it comes to power and storage?
Sirard: The data center market is facing significant power constraints, with demand far exceeding available capacity and limiting the ability to deliver new projects on schedule. Energy storage is becoming increasingly important in modern data center design, particularly as operators move toward decentralized on-site generation. To support this shift, improvements in regulatory frameworks, power quality and extended-duration battery backup, beyond traditional short‑term reserves, will be essential.
Bisnow: What is MPINarada working on that will help push the industry forward?
Sirard: Our portfolio spans 240V and 480V valve-regulated lead-acid and lithium iron phosphate direct current battery systems, supporting run times from five to 30 minutes as well as extended‑duration solutions of one to four hours. This range allows operators to architect backup strategies tailored to both traditional uninterruptible power supply, or UPS, requirements and emerging long‑duration resilience needs.
We are investing heavily in next‑generation LIP platforms, including both liquid‑cooled and air‑cooled designs, engineered for high‑capacity, high‑cycle applications. These systems deliver improved safety, longer service life and stronger warranty performance across cabinet, containerized and building‑scale deployments. Our NESP Series continues to expand as a flexible energy storage system, or ESS, capable of supporting a wide spectrum of operational profiles.
Our MPL Series High‑Rate batteries are available in containerized configurations and skid‑mounted systems, enabling faster deployment, simplified integration and reduced commissioning timelines.
Bisnow: You're speaking on a panel titled Powering Reliability: The Future of Data Center Backup, Storage and Resilience. Without giving too much away, what does that future look like?
Sirard: The future of data center backup and storage is going to look very different from what we’re used to. We're moving away from relying solely on the grid and short‑duration UPS systems and instead shifting toward hybrid power models that blend on-site generation with long‑duration energy storage.
What that really means is that data centers will become more self‑sufficient. Multihour storage will support everything from grid interruptions to peak‑shaving, and operators will have far more flexibility in how they manage power. At the same time, battery technologies and control systems are getting smarter, safer and more efficient, which opens the door to designs that simply weren’t practical a few years ago.
Bisnow: What do you think the hottest topics of conversation will be at the event?
Sirard: I expect a lot of the discussion to focus on where future power is really going to come from. With grid capacity tightening, everyone is looking seriously at alternative generation strategies. You’ll hear a lot about on-site power — advanced generator systems and turbines — and how operators can build more self‑reliant architectures.
Nuclear will absolutely be a hot topic as well. Between small modular reactors and emerging micronuclear concepts, there’s a lot of interest in how these technologies could support long‑term, high‑density growth. And, of course, renewables will continue to be in the spotlight, especially as the industry works through how to pair them effectively with storage and backup systems.
Bisnow: What do you want the main takeaway of this event to be?
Sirard: I want attendees to walk away with a clear understanding of the options available to them and how those choices align with the types of workloads they’re supporting. Not every data center load profile is the same, and the backup strategy that works for one environment might not make sense for another.
It’s also important for operators to consider deployment timelines. There’s a big difference between what you can accomplish with prefabricated, modular solutions versus a traditional contractor‑led on-site build. So the real message is: Know your requirements, know your timelines and choose the approach that’s going to set you up for the most reliable and scalable path forward.
This article was produced in collaboration between MPINarada and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.
Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.
