Global non-profit energy research and development organization announces international expansion of DCFlex initiative.
EPRI, a global non-profit energy research and development organization, has announced the international expansion of its DCFlex initiative – starting with participants in Europe.
Introduced last year in the US, DCFlex explores how data centers can support the electric grid, enable better asset utilization and improve interconnection and efficiency.
The collaborative effort – with Google, Meta, NVIDIA and various utilities as founding members – now includes France-based RTE and Schneider Electric, Amsterdam-based ING and PPC Group, based in Athens, Greece.
DCFlex will establish flexibility hubs, demonstrating innovative data center and power supplier strategies that enable operational and deployment flexibility, streamline grid integration and transition backup power solutions to grid assets. Demonstration deployments will begin in the first half of 2025, and testing is planned to run through 2027.
“Europe is experiencing significant growth in electricity demand, driven by data centers, AI, increased electrification, and other factors,” said EPRI President and CEO Arshad Mansoor. “Flexible data center design and operation is a key strategy for accelerating AI development and realizing its benefits, while minimizing costs and enhancing system reliability,” he said.
“As the demand for grid connections from hyperscalers grows exponentially in France, RTE must match the electric consumption of their algorithms with the power system constraints to accelerate the connection process,” said Xavier Piechaczyk,President of the Managing Board, RTE.
“Full-scale experimentations of DCFlex projects will demonstrate the technical feasibility of data center flexibility solutions and will guide innovative grid connection solutions.”
Caroline Golin, Global Head of Energy Market Development and Innovation, Google, said: “At Google, we see this moment as a generational opportunity for the public and private sector to work together to meet energy demand responsibly and unlock significant benefits for people, the economy and the planet.
“Through the leadership, expertise and convening power of EPRI, DCFlex will be an important collaboration vehicle to align our common goals, as we work together to build a stronger electrical grid for all.”
Steve Carlini, Chief Advocate, AI and Data Center, Vice President, Schneider Electric, said: “EPRI’s DCFlex initiative will be a tremendous catalyst for progress in developing and testing new technologies, frameworks and operational models. The collaboration between leading data center operators, utilities and other stakeholders will be critical to solving these problems and we are thrilled to be participating.”
Mark Pieter de Boer, Global Head of Sector Coverage and Chief Commercial Officer, ING, said: “We are proud to be the first global financial institution to join DCFlex and to play a leading role in shaping the solutions necessary to ensure electric grid stability and sustainable growth of the data center sector.”
