AI Data Centers May Not Need Constant Peak Power, Study Finds

AI data centers can operate without using peak power continuously, according to the results of a UK trial, a finding that could have implications for electricity systems worldwide.

Grids from the US to Europe are grappling with a surge in applications from power-hungry data centers used to run artificial intelligence workloads. In the UK, some projects face waits of over a decade for grid access. Typically, these facilities apply for connections based on their maximum possible demand, requiring networks to build enough infrastructure to serve that peak load at all times.

But a trial involving National Grid Plc., Nvidia ...