Powering Digital Infrastructure Requires Planning, Flexibility and Humans

April 7, 2025--Written by Paul Wiseman for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--As all power demands are expected to continue rising, the growing presence of data centers will further tax grid infrastructures in the U.S. and worldwide. Even more challenging is the task of balancing expansion of affordable and reliable power against the requirements of climate and emissions goals.

While the grid is indeed important, the power challenge starts at an earlier phase, involving generation. This involves a new kind of "generation gap," to repurpose a 1960s term, said Chris Sharp, chief technology officer at Digital Realty.