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Datacenters Are Becoming the Grid’s Biggest Load
This white paper uses the latest IEEE TR-131 findings to show how datacenters have evolved from a single large load into one of the fastest-growing demands on the U.S. grid—reshaping electricity consumption, interconnection planning, and overall system reliability. With forecasts showing datacenter demand doubling or even tripling within a few short years, utilities must be ready for the engineering, protection, and power quality challenges these facilities bring.
Key topics include:
- Load Growth & Forecasting: TR-131 projections, regional examples, and the mismatch between datacenter deployment and build-out timelines.
- Engineering Challenges: Interconnection queues, 1GW+ campus loads, and co-location of new generation alongside high-density demand.
- Reliability Concerns: Blackstart and demand-response limitations, diesel backup complications, and the role of datacenters in restoration planning.
- Power Quality Impacts: Harmonics, voltage flicker, AI-driven load swings, and how PMI recorders exceed TR-131 recommendations with higher-rate sampling and harmonic capture.
Why utilities should care:
Datacenters are not just another customer class as they’re becoming the dominant source of new load growth, operating at near-constant demand 24/7. Their unique power profiles and reliance on electronics introduce both short-term forecasting challenges and long-term stability concerns. Staying informed through IEEE TR-131 and using tools like PMI’s recorders to help anticipate these challenges, keep pace with rapid deployment, and safeguard system reliability. With the right strategies, utilities can meet rising datacenter demand without compromising power quality or grid integrity.
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