Google-Nvidia Alliance Says Data Centers Will Become "Flexible Grid Resources" That Power Down When Asked, Which They Won't
The 100-megawatt pilot will demonstrate the industry's willingness to throttle during peak demand, in principle, pending a review of what peak means.
MANASSAS, Va. — Google, Nvidia and the startup Emerald AI announced the formation of the AI Energy Management Alliance on Monday, a coalition that will demonstrate how data centers can act as "flexible grid resources" by reducing their power consumption during periods of peak demand, a capability the alliance says its members possess and will use "in appropriate circumstances."
"When the grid is stressed, our facilities can dial back," said an alliance spokesperson at the launch of a 100-megawatt pilot facility. "It's a partnership with the community. We take a little less. They keep their lights on. Everyone wins. We'd do it in a heartbeat. We just need to define 'stressed.'"
Under the pilot, the utility will be able to request a reduction in load during grid emergencies. The request will be evaluated by an automated system that weighs the grid's needs against the facility's current training jobs, contractual obligations, and "the general strategic importance of the models being trained," and will respond within four hours with a decision, an explanation, or a slide deck.
Asked to describe a scenario in which the facility would actually reduce load, the spokesperson said that during a hypothetical heat wave in which a hospital was at risk, the alliance "would absolutely engage," and that engagement "could take many forms, including a donation."
Emerald AI's software, which orchestrates the throttling, is described as capable of cutting a data center's draw by 25 percent within minutes. In the pilot's first test, the system cut draw by 25 percent, then restored it after 90 seconds when a training run "flagged itself as urgent," which the company said is a feature.
Utility officials welcomed the initiative and said they look forward to the day the flexibility is used. "We've been told it's there," said one grid operator. "It's like having a fire extinguisher that asks you how bad the fire is."