Data centers battle for energy storage

Why is data center energy storage important in 2024?

Faster response times, higher energy densities, and improved thermal stability are necessary data center energy storage characteristics. Fortunately, in 2024, developers made major advancements in addressing these needs while tackling challenges in power density, sustainability, and grid stability.

What are data center energy storage characteristics?

As data centers evolve to meet surging workloads, particularly with artificial intelligence applications, energy systems must keep pace with increasingly dynamic and demanding power profiles. Faster response times, higher energy densities, and improved thermal stability are necessary data center energy storage characteristics.

Will data center energy storage innovations continue in 2025?

The momentum in data center energy storage innovations will continue into 2025. As data centers evolve to meet surging workloads, particularly with artificial intelligence applications, energy systems must keep pace with increasingly dynamic and demanding power profiles.

What is a supercapacitor-based energy storage system?

In 2024, Flex and Musashi Energy Solutions introduced a hybrid supercapacitor-based energy storage system (CESS) for the AI data center. Leveraging the capacitors’ fast response times capacitors relative to batteries, the CESS helps reduce transient spikes associated with AI training workloads and stabilizes grid operations.

What is ABB's Megaflex ups for data centers?

ABB’s MegaFlex UPS for data centers. Image adapted from ABB and Canva In 2024, ABB introduced nickel-zinc batteries (NiZn) into its MegaFlex uninterruptible power supply (UPS) lineup, specifically targeting data centers’ energy challenges. Nickel-zinc battery. Image used courtesy of ZincFive