The rise of flexible data centers
About this episode
Shayle Kann interviews Varun Sivaram about the challenges and solutions related to flexible data centers and their impact on the electric grid.
As the buildout of data centers accelerates on a dramatic trajectory,its strain on the electric grid has increased in turn; forecasts suggest they could consume up to 17% of all US power by 2030. To avoid higher rates and slower AI growth, the industry has embraced a promising solution: data center flexibility. In this episode, Shayle speaks with Varun Sivaram, the CEO of Emerald AI. Coming on the heels of a $25 million investment round led by Energy Impact Partners, Varun returns to the show to provide an update on the "wickedly complicated" challenge of aligning utilities, cloud providers, and the grid. Shayle and Varun explore topics like: Tapping into the 100+ gigawatts of unused grid capacity Why the "Watt-Bit spread" is shifting to make power flexibility profitable The differences between training and inference flexibility, including Google’s new "flex" and "priority" tiers The "mini dispatch curve" for data centers created by batteries, gas turbines and fuel cells Emerald’s plans to collaborate with NVIDIA and other partners on the world’s first 100-megawatt, truly power-flexible AI factory Resources Catalyst: The mechanics of data center flexibility Catalyst: The…
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