Data Centres

The biggest development in the data centre energy space this week is Centrica's move to pilot a Direct Current microgrid, as outlined by R&D Director Dr. Ben Krikler.

The proposal directly tackles the efficiency drag from repeated AC-DC conversions by integrating solar and battery storage.

Readers should watch how this pilot scales, as it signals a potential shift in how operators meet surging power demand without sacrificing sustainability goals.

Tracking: Data Center · Data Centre

Geography: Northern Virginia, Silicon Valley, Dallas/Fort Worth, Phoenix, Chicago, Frankfurt, London, Singapore, Tokyo, Dublin

1. Centrica director proposes DC microgrid pilot for data centres

Dr. Ben Krikler, Director of Research & Innovation at Centrica, outlined a new direct current (DC) microgrid pilot at Data Centre LIVE London. The pilot could help data centres improve energy efficiency by integrating solar and battery technologies.

As operators face growing demand for scalable and sustainable power, DC microgrids are emerging as a technology worth watching, potentially reducing losses from repeated AC-DC conversions.

Key facts:

- Dr. Ben Krikler is Director of Research & Innovation at Centrica.

- A new DC microgrid pilot could integrate solar and battery technologies for data centres.

- The pilot was discussed at Data Centre LIVE London.

- DC microgrids are emerging as a technology to improve energy efficiency.

Why it matters: Data centre operators are under pressure to scale capacity while cutting carbon footprints. This DC microgrid pilot, if successful, could enable more efficient on-site use of solar and battery power, reducing reliance on grid conversions.

Hyperscalers and colocation providers should monitor Centrica’s results closely—DC infrastructure may become a key lever for meeting sustainability targets and managing escalating power costs.

Datacentremagazine