Welcome to the September Data Center Flexible Load (DCFlex) Newsletter! This month, we’re sharing new research, partnerships, and upcoming activities showing how flexibility can improve grid reliability, affordability, and faster access to power for large loads.
What We're Learning:
Flex MOSAIC™ has debuted its Simulation Tool. Flex MOSAIC™ is a tiered classification framework to identify how grid flexibility needs can be satisfied by large loads. The simulation helps data center and energy stakeholders understand flexibility requirements, optimize project design, and prepare the information needed to move efficiently through the interconnection process. The simulator allows you to choose from the role of a data center developer, interconnection study engineer, tariff/ program designer or long-term planner to reveal how Flex MOSAIC assists each perspective to meet their goals. Try it here: Flex MOSAIC™ Simulation.
Large Load Ride Through for Data Centersdraws on lessons from IEEE 1547 and IEEE 2800, to outline attributes of effective ride through requirements. It concludes by describing EPRI’s DCFlex initiative as a pathway to harmonize requirements, improve traceability, and establish practical compliance and certification approaches to support grid reliability at scale. Learn more at: Large Load Ride Through For Data Centers: Identifying Gaps in Requirements, Interpretation, and Compliance.
A new EPRI study on customer rates challenges the common narrative that data center growth drives up retail electricity rates. For example, as the largest data center market in the U.S., Virginia data centers consume more than 20 percent of the state’s electricity. Yet Virginia experienced lower-than-average increases in retail electricity rates. The research found higher electricity demand does not automatically mean higher electricity bills. See the summary: Have Data Centers Raised Your Electric Bill? For more, read the study: Have Data Centers Raised Your Electric Bill? Causal Evidence from the United States.
By the Numbers
70+ – Organizations are collaborating in DCFlex across utilities, independent system operators, hyperscalers, OEMs, and tech companies.
65+ – Supporters have added their names to an open letter supporting Flex MOSAICTM. Add your name at Flex MOSAIC™ | DCFlex.
15 – Case studies are available to help you understand community-centered data center development here.
DCFlex’s Executive Sponsor, David Porter, contributed to Creating Benefits for Customers and System Operatorsfor Public Utilities Fortnightly: Harnessing Large Load Growth | Fortnightly
Like this newsletter? Our members receive this and so much more! To learn more about joining DCFlex, reach out to our team at DCFlex@epri.comor visit https://dcflex.epri.com.
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