Powering Gigawatt Data Centers: Comparing Wind, Solar, and Gas Options

Explore the options for powering gigawatt-scale data centers in this 40-minute video presentation from Trelis Research. Dive into a comprehensive analysis of various energy sources including wind, solar, and gas, as well as hybrid solutions. Learn about datacenter demand curves, financial modeling for gas power plants, and cost analyses for different energy configurations. Examine detailed models of solar and wind power combined with battery storage, and understand the implications of integrating multiple energy sources. Gain insights into the technology shortlist, financing assumptions, and weighted cost of capital for these massive infrastructure projects. Conclude with a summary of findings, future implications, and potential paths forward in powering next-generation data centers. Access additional resources, including tools, GitHub repositories, and presentation slides, to further your understanding of this critical topic in modern computing infrastructure.

Options for Powering a Gigawatt Datacenter Wind, Solar, Gas
Video Overview
Technology Shortlist
Datacenter Demand Curves
Modelling Gas Power Plants
Financing Assumptions / Weight Cost of Capital
Gas Turbine Cost Analysis
Modelling Solar Power + Batteries
Solar + Batteries + Gas
Wind + Batteries + Gas
Solar + Wind + Batteries + Gas
Summary, Implications and Path Ahead
Resources