- US Energy Secretary Urges Data Centers to Use Generators and Temporarily Disconnect Grid Connections
- Dirty generators risk producing more emissions amid regional heat wave and increased demand for air conditioning
- Data centers are clearly putting enormous pressure on local networks, which are struggling to cope
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright ordered large data centers to switch from grid electricity to on-site backup generators during the current East Coast heat wave, to relieve pressure on the grid.
By using generators, the goal is to free up electricity for residential air conditioning units, where energy demand is increasing in the region as a result of excess heat.
The directive mainly applies to data centers and other large electricity consumers connected to the PJM interconnection network, a major operator in the region.
Data centers asked to use generators amid heat wave
Large consumers, such as data centers, have been given permission to go off-grid and revert to diesel- or natural gas-powered generators, despite concerns about sustainability.
PJM’s advisory is one of two related to this heat wave; The Department of Energy also announced similar measures for Duke Energy in the Carolinas.
“The order authorizes Duke Energy to operate specified units up to their maximum generation output levels, regardless of air quality or other permitting limitations arising from federal, state, or local law or regulation, or other applicable source of law,” the directive says.
“Maintaining affordable, reliable and secure energy in Duke Energy’s service territory is non-negotiable,” Wright added, implying that residents should not suffer due to the concentration of data centers in the region.
There are believed to be 35GW of backup generation available nationally, although it is unclear how much grid capacity the East Coast measures will free up.
However, what the temporary measures demonstrate is that citizen and commercial demands are too close to the production generated and that there is not enough margin to allow sudden increases in demand. Without investment in sustainable electricity, ongoing data center projects increasingly risk scenarios like this, where unsustainable fuels are burned to generate power.
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