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Artificial intelligence is no longer just a large power consumer. It is embedded in power systems and influencing their design and operations.
As AI factories become critical infrastructure, the discourse is shifting to how these facilities can interact with the larger energy ecosystem.
For developers and operators, a successful and resilient AI data center is not only about securing power quickly or connecting to the grid first but also about how effectively AI infrastructure is integrated with the energy system over the long term.
The future of AI is about ensuring that digital and energy infrastructure can evolve together effectively, said Pietro Serra, global product manager at Hitachi Energy, a global leader in electrification.
The next phase of AI infrastructure growth hinges on what Hitachi Energy refers to as “responsible power integration,” a principle that enables the objectives of AI growth, grid reliability and sustainability to advance together, Serra said. This can be achieved when facilities connect to the grid and eventually operate reliably and sustainably while using energy and grid infrastructure efficiently and managing their impact on the wider power system.
“Integrating a large data center load requires an understanding of its characteristics and its interaction with the surrounding power system,” said Novan Zakkia, senior consultant at Hitachi Energy. “The goal is to identify potential impacts early and address them in a way that helps developers move their projects forward, meets interconnection requirements and supports reliable operation of both the facility and the grid.”
Mitigating Power Grid Impacts
Optimizing AI infrastructure requires early collaboration among developers, data center operators, utilities, grid operators, power system consultants and technology partners such as Hitachi Energy.
An important first step is to understand the facility’s power needs and how it may interact with the grid, Zakkia said.
Data center developers and operators can support the study process by sharing information about their facility’s power needs, load composition and planned electrical design. This information forms part of the broader data and modeling inputs needed for the power system and interconnection studies required during the interconnection process, Zakkia said.
The study results can help developers, data center operators, utilities and grid operators understand how the planned facility interconnection may affect the grid and assess whether mitigation measures are needed at the facility, on the surrounding power system or both. Where needed, these measures may include adjustments to the facility’s electrical design, transmission upgrades, additional reactive power support, or protection and control upgrades.
Studies conducted during interconnection planning may need to be updated when changes such as equipment upgrades or facility expansions are planned. Zakkia said developers and data center operators should work closely with utilities and grid operators, both to stay informed about evolving interconnection requirements and to share planned facility changes.
“Responsible power integration doesn’t end after a study is completed and an interconnection request is approved,” he said. “It is an ongoing effort that needs to adapt as the facility’s power needs and the surrounding power system change.”
Improving Efficiency and Resiliency Through Sustainability
Serra said a responsibly integrated AI facility has resilient infrastructure, meaning it should use energy resources efficiently and be compatible with the grid for long-term readiness.
When discussing how to incorporate sustainability into AI infrastructure, Serra said stakeholders need to think about how to maximize the utilization of existing infrastructure while also looking at the life cycle of the equipment and integrating renewable energy resources.
“Sustainability is not just considering where electricity comes from but how efficiently the electricity and infrastructure are used,” he said. “Rather than looking at how individual products contribute to creating sustainable infrastructure, we need to think about how the architecture can support the evolution of this type of load.”
Depending on site and grid requirements, the architecture can combine power electronics, battery energy storage systems or static synchronous compensators, devices used to stabilize grid voltage, automation and advanced controls.
Zakkia said incorporating these solutions requires close coordination with utilities, grid operators and transmission system operators across the project’s life cycle.
He said responsible power integration also involves reviewing the facility’s electricity demand and electrical performance over time, sharing relevant information and assessing whether operational adjustments and equipment upgrades are needed. Participating in industry forums, such as large-load working groups, can help stakeholders share lessons from connecting and operating large loads and inform future practices, he said.
“Responsible power integration offers a path for AI growth, grid reliability, economic development and sustainability to advance together,” Zakkia said.
This article was produced in collaboration between Hitachi Energy 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.
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