Tech companies, data center developers, and electricity efficacy have been scared of the possibility of a fleeing demand in the United States despite unprecedented growth in AI.
Among the shocks of all hand, a New paper The situation published this week shows that the situation will not be so serious if data center operators and other heavy electricity users use them so much.
By limiting the grid -made electricity to a maximum of 90 % for a two hours at a time – every year for a day, new consumers can open 76 GW capacity in the United States. This is more than the use of all data centers globally, According to Goldman Sex. To keep this number in the context, it is about 10 % of the peak demand in the United States
If data centers want to maximize their use, they can gradually unlock more capacity.
Such programs are not new at all.
For decades, utility has encouraged large consumers such as shopping malls, universities and factories to reduce their use on demand peaks like summer days. Those users can reject air conditioning or turn off thirst for a few hours, and in return, utility gives them credit for their bills.
Data centers are largely sitting instead of choosing to maintain up -time and performance levels for their users. This study argues that data centers may be the ideal participants of the demand response because they have the ability to be flexible.
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The study says there are some ways that data centers can cut their electricity use. Have a temporary flexibility, or to move computing tasks at low demand hours. For example, AI model training can be easily reset to adjust a short cricket.
There is another local flexibility, where companies move their computational works to other regions that are not facing much demand. Even despite data centers, operators can stabilize the burden and close a portion of their servers.
And if work mission is important and may not be delayed or shift, data center operators can always refer to alternative sources to meet any shortage. Batteries are ideally suitable for this because even minor size installations can provide several hours of electricity for almost immediately.
Some companies have already participated in their ad hoc version.
Google has used its carbon familiar computing platform, which is actually developed to trim the emission, To make it worth Demand Response Enl X has worked with data centers Tap in batteries In their uninterrupted power supply (UPS) to strengthen the grid. And is offering PG & E -data centers to connect quickly with the grid if operators agree to participate in the Demand Response Program.
These opportunities will not fully eliminate the need for new power sources. But they can change a potentially catastrophic situation – in which all new AI servers are given less power – which is easily resolved.