- Wärtsilä says power infrastructure is struggling to keep up with the growth of AI data centres in the United States
- The company recommends combining grid connections with on-site generation and battery storage to reduce project delays related to energy
Fact
Wärtsilä warned that the expansion of AI data centres is straining power infrastructure in the United States, with electricity demand outpacing new power generation. The company said in its 'Beyond the Grid' report that utility interconnection can take five to seven years, while grid expansion alone is unlikely to keep pace with expected demand.
To address this gap, Wärtsilä recommends integrating grid connections with on-site generation and battery storage to improve reliability at sites where utility connections lag behind construction. The company said this approach would help developers meet growing computing demand while maintaining reliable power supplies.
Assessment
The findings highlight a growing mismatch between data centre construction and power delivery. In some cases, developers can complete the facility before the electricity needed to operate it is available. This changes how projects are planned. Rather than treating power as a utility connection secured during development, operators may need to include on-site generation and battery storage in project planning alongside grid connections from the start.
For BTW readers, this highlights how power delivery is increasingly determining when new data centre capacity comes online. Reliable electricity has become part of project delivery rather than a requirement addressed after construction.
What to watch
Watch for developer announcements of projects integrating grid connections with on-site generation or battery storage. Broader adoption of hybrid energy strategies will signal that operators are changing how new data centre capacity is delivered in response to lengthening utility interconnection timelines.