The data centre power landscape is undergoing a significant transformation. The demand for energy in high-tech industries and from artificial intelligence (AI) applications is increasing rapidly, making it essential for data centres to secure reliable on-site power.
Traditionally, data centres have relied on national grids and renewable energy sources secured through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
This rising demand for data centre power, coupled with global trends toward electrification and increased industrial energy consumption, is leading to delays and bottlenecks in obtaining grid connections for new data centres.
The pressing need to secure a reliable power supply for data centres is driving demand for alternatives to national grid connections. These include on-site power for data centres to ensure high levels of availability. As a leading power plant supplier, Wärtsilä offers reliable, fuel-efficient, and low-emission solutions for meeting your primary data centre power consumption needs. These solutions involve engine power plants that can run on natural gas and/or liquid biofuel.
On-site power for data centres need to be:
Reliability and availability are important because even minor power disruptions can lead to downtime and data loss, which can result in significant financial losses.
Scalability is important because data centres also need to accommodate the increase in power demand driven by rapid digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and big data.
Adaptable to load variations
Load following capabilities are essential for modern power plants, enabling them to dynamically adjust their output to match the fluctuating demands of the grid.
Fuel efficiency is a critical requirement because data centres consume vast amounts of power and face increasing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint.
A data centre energy supply solution that fulfils these requirements will help to ensure uninterrupted operations and support the growing demand for data centre power.
Wärtsilä offers power generation solutions tailored for data centres. Our engine power plants have fast deployment times, can run on natural gas and/or liquid biofuels and are able to act as the primary source of on-site power for data centres.
Engines are the most fuel-efficient power generation assets available today and are also a sustainable choice for meeting data centre power demands as their high efficiency results in lower emissions. This makes them an ideal choice for on-site power for data centres that both demand exceptional performance and have high sustainability targets.
Wärtsilä also offers combined heat and power (CHP) systems that can be used to repurpose waste heat for data-centre cooling, further reducing the carbon footprint of data centres.
Engine power plants are designed to bridge the gap between the period of no grid connection and grid connection. Engines can initially operate as the primary power source and later be converted to a balancing power plant: such as a power exporting plant or a backup plant once the grid connection is finalised. This flexibility ensures that the data centre remains powered at all times, regardless of grid availability.
Wärtsilä engine sizes range from 10 to 20MW and have compact physical dimensions. This makes them suitable for various data centre configurations from 30 MW up to several hundred MW configurations
The modular design allows the data centre energy supply solution to grow as the demand for power increases, offering flexibility and scalability.
typical factory delivery time
Wärtsilä’s advanced combined heat and power (CHP) solutions allow data centres to explore the potential of using waste heat from engines to produce chilled water through absorption chillers. This integration can help meet a data centre’s cooling needs sustainably, with the plant’s fuel efficiency exceeding 80% in certain cases.
efficiency
Engines are one of the most fuel-efficient power generation assets available today; Wärtsilä engines can in some cases exceed 50% electrical efficiency. This high efficiency translates into lower fuel costs and emissions – both key factors to support data centre profitability.
Due to their high efficiency, engines are an ideal source of primary power for data centres and can deliver full power at temperatures ranging from -45°C/-49°F to 45°C/113°F. This means engines can deliver on-site power for data centres in a wide range of geographical locations.
Sustainability is increasingly critical for data centres as they consume vast amounts of energy. Global energy demands are surging – but there is also a heightened focus on carbon footprints, which means that data centres are under pressure to adopt more sustainable practices.
Wärtsilä’s engine-based data centre energy supply solutions contribute to a data centre’s sustainability plans, helping to meet regulatory requirements by lowering emissions. They also have the added advantage of almost zero water consumption thanks to the closed-loop cooling system. A Wärtsilä engine power plant consumes less than 5l/1.3 gal of demineralised water per hour due to its high efficiency and low cooling needs.
Wärtsilä engines can run on biogas, e-methane and 25% hydrogen blends. In 2024, Wärtsilä released the world’s first large-scale 100% hydrogen-ready engine power plant, taking a key step towards net zero and a 100% renewable energy future.
Engine-based power plants that offer rapid start-up and unlimited cycling capabilities provide significant benefits for data centres because they ensure consistent power in a dynamic environment. As data centres face fluctuating power demands, Wartsila engines provide unmatched flexibility and load following capabilities.
With excellent dispatch capabilities in Wärtsilä engines can synchronise and begin generating power in just 30 seconds, reaching full load in as little as two minutes without any minimum uptime or downtime limitations. Unlimited starts and stops have no additional cost, for example in terms of maintenance.
Reliable on-site power for data centres is extremely important as they are at the core of critical digital infrastructure that supports businesses, governments and individuals. Any downtime can result in significant financial losses, disruption to services and compromised data integrity.
When using engine-based power plants as the primary data centre power supply, the ability to operate on a variety of gaseous or liquid fuels provides energy security in case of fuel supply disruptions. In addition to low gas pressure requirements, engines can instantly switch between fuels while maintaining full output and high efficiency. This gives you both flexibility and security of power supply.
Wärtsilä Energy is a globally recognised leader in power solutions, with a workforce of 5,000 employees and 80,000 MW of installed power plant capacity worldwide. Our extensive experience and proven track record make us a trusted partner for data centre power needs.
By combining scalability, sustainability and support, Wärtsilä engine power plants are tailored to meet the on-site power demands of modern data centres.
