Bridge to Grid: Reliable and Sustainable Power For Your Data Center Operations
Data centers are the backbone of the digital age, powering the applications, services, and technologies that we rely on every day. As the demand for data centers continue to grow, the need for reliable and sustainable power does as well.
Microgrids (sometimes called live wire) and primary power plants can utilize a range of sustainable fuels, including hydrogen, renewable natural gas or biomethane or HVO (Hydrotreated vegetable oil), to provide data centers with the resiliency and sustainability they need to support their continued growth.
With the capability to utilize a wide range of sustainable fuels, Solar will ensure that your data centers are powered by our resilient and reliable power generation package solutions.
Efficient and reliable power even with unavailable or unreliable grids
In many data center Tier 1 locations like Dublin, Loudoun county, Tokyo, and London, the growth of data center construction has outpaced power generation and power transmission planning, resulting in a power deficit.
We offer sustainable, modular, continuous power rated and high-efficiency configurations that align with the phases of data center construction. Our microgrid or primary power plant provides maximum resiliency and efficiency throughout the entire data center construction process. Here are some benefits and features:
- Modular generating units, Power Generation Module (PGM), ranging from 6MW-8MW and larger units up to 16.5 MW.
- High efficiency, high power density scalable combined cycle available in 15-30MW, 20- 40MW, or 40-80MW modules
- A mobile primary power plant, Solar Mobile Turbomachinery (SMT), available in two power ranges, 6 MW and 16.5Mwe
- A 35s start - 3MW generation package that can be repurposed from prime power when the grid connection is not available, or into backup unit when the grid connection is eventually active (FlexPower).
- All solutions with the benefit of high-power density, dual fuel low emissions (15 ppm NOx at 15%O2 and below) with no water consumption for NOx abatement or power augmentation, lower PUE, green fuel ready (H2, HVO, Biogas), 80%+ thermal efficiency, ability to take 100% load blocks, ability to run in island mode with reliable parallelling.
Sustainable and reliable energy 100% of the time
The data center industry is a significant purchaser of green electricity through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to minimize its impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Due to the unpredictable nature of variable renewable sources like wind and solar photovoltaic, and because of the temporal and geographical correlation of renewable electricity production and its consumption required by some hyperscales, it is necessary for Data center energy providers or the datacenter microgrid to store the generated renewable electricity for delivery or produce low/no-carbon electricity when needed.
While a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) investment can provide a storage solution, it may not be a practical option due to the amount of energy to be stored and its high cost.
A solution to this challenge is to leverage the fuel flexibility of gas turbine data centers. These data centers can use alternative fuels, such as hydrogen, biogas, biomethane, Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), Bio-Propane, or Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) to deliver green electricity when variable renewables are unavailable. Such microgrid can also enhance the DC sustainability in the local community by being able to support the regional power utility grid with frequency restoration services, capacity services or deliver hot or chilled water to the neighborhood.
Lower PUE with combined cooling and power
For data centers operating in hot climates, or for data centers wanting to offer high cooling capacity to their tenants, chilled water production with electrical chillers can significantly increase operating expenses (OPEX) and DC Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE). To reduce cost and PUE, combined cooling and power plant (or cogeneration) to generate chilled water while producing electricity can be a cost-effective solution, particularly when the price differential between gas and electricity is substantial.
Scalable Combined Cooling and Power Solution includes:
- Modular PGM (Power Generation Module) gas turbine
- Chilled water produced either in absorption chillers (direct exhaust and water/steam) or steam turbine driven compression chillers
- Flexible configuration allowing to optimize electricity and chiller water production depending on the temperature of the day, the tenants needs and the evolution of the datacenter cooling needs over the years.
- With the benefit of high-power density, dual fuel low emissions (15 ppm NOx at 15%O2 and below) with no water consumption for NOx abatement or power augmentation, lower PUE, green fuel ready (H2, HVO, Biogas), 80%+ thermal efficiency, ability to take 100% load blocks, ability to run in island mode with reliable parallelling.
High power density, emergency back-up, stand-by power, and dual fuel
Gas Turbines like our Centaur 40 are a reliable option for emergency back-up power generation in data centers.
Gas turbines present numerous advantages. These benefits include:
- Significantly higher power density compared to 3 MW diesel generators, with 3 MW blocks of gas engines, and even 15 MWe capacity within the same footprint.
- COP (Continuous Power) rated turbines that can be run at full rated power for an unlimited amount of time.
- Quick engine warm-up, with full load achieved in less than 35 seconds for the Centaur 40 which can be used as primary or backup power
- Dual fuel capabilities reducing the risk due to fuel supply disruptions.
- Reduced NOx emissions, with less than 15 parts per million by volume (ppmv) without the use of water for NOx abatement or power augmentation.
- The ability to switch between diesel and natural gas on the fly, ensuring low emissions and uptime requirements.
- Superior power quality, island mode capable, allowing 100% load block, and reliable parallelling without the need for batteries.
- Compatibility with renewable liquids and gases, including hydrogen fuel blends.
Bridge Power for Data Centers
Learn how Solar was able to bridge the power utility gap for a large colocation data center while achieving low emissions, maintaining a grid-type cost of electricity, and providing a path to zero-carbon power.
Quick Reference Data Sheet
Hydrogen
Solar understands the operational requirements for increasing concentration of hydrogen in fuel and transportation gases and are continuously researching the use of other carbon neutral fuels.
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