How Splight's new offering helps data centers connect to the grid

Data Centers are front of mind for a lot of people today. Should they rely on power generation from others or build on-site facilities? Here are some things to consider when deciding.

Interesting article on energy sources needed and factors to consider as Data Center growth takes off - thanks for sharing Ryan!

Actalent 💡 Meeting the energy demands of modern data centers Actalent’s Ryan Cross, PE, MBA, highlights why on-site power generation could be a game-changer for data centers, especially as traditional grid connections face limits. His article covers the benefits, challenges, and key considerations for implementation. 🌱 Smart energy solutions like this are essential as we scale digital infrastructure sustainably. How is your organization preparing for rising energy needs in data centers? #DataCenters #Utilities #Engineering #SustainableEnergy #Microgrids #WeAreActalent

Big Tech is trying to make their data centers more energy efficient. They are also installing backup generators, typically fueled by diesel, to ensure an uninterrupted power supply if there's a power outage… “And the question is, is that worth it? Is it worth it for society to build those 10 new power plants just to serve the data centers for five hours a year?" Silverman said. "Or is there a better way to do it?" It’s OK to raise Quantum Questions now while we are still planning and innovating. #QuantumQuestion

Unlocking Utility Efficiency: How Virtualized Substation Protection is Revolutionizing O&M Costs Ever wondered how utilities can slash operations and maintenance costs while boosting reliability? The secret lies in virtualizing substation protection, automation, and control. By shifting away from traditional hardware-bound systems to software-defined virtualization, utilities gain unprecedented flexibility: seamless upgrades without physical hardware swaps, remote troubleshooting, and faster fault detection. This directly translates to fewer truck rolls, less unplanned downtime, and longer asset life—all key drivers for cutting O&M expenses. The vPAC Alliance is accelerating this transformation by uniting industry leaders to standardize solutions that are interoperable and scalable. This collaboration fuels smarter substations that adapt to evolving grid demands and AI-driven energy needs. For utilities ready to modernize, vPAC isn’t just about technology—it’s a pathway to sustainable, cost-efficient, and resilient grid operations. Are utility leaders ready to embrace virtualization as the key to unlocking a smarter, more resilient, and cost-efficient grid future? #UtilityInnovation #GridModernization #vPACAlliance #SmartGrid #DigitalTransformation

Why the future of Grid Resilience will be decided inside the substation ⚡ The #energytransition is rewriting the rules of the grid. Volatility from renewables, EVs, and distributed assets demands a new level of agility - one that can’t be achieved from the control center alone. The question for utility leaders is no longer if more intelligence is needed, but where it should live. How do you build a truly resilient and adaptive grid without another decade of heavy CAPEX and complex hardware rollouts? 👉 The answer is a strategic shift of focus: bring computing power inside the substation. It’s a transformation that delivers four distinct advantages: 1️⃣ From Static Node to Intelligent Hub A single, ruggedized computing platform replaces a stack of dedicated “black boxes.” It runs protection, control, and cybersecurity as software applications - radically simplifying your asset footprint. 2️⃣ Lower Total Cost of Ownership, Higher Agility When software drives your substation, you decouple innovation from hardware cycles. Critical updates and new functions can be deployed remotely - reducing truck rolls, cutting OpEx, and accelerating time-to-market for new capabilities. 3️⃣ Reliability You Can Measure Local automation acts in milliseconds, not seconds. It isolates faults instantly, prevents cascading failures, and improves key reliability metrics (e.g. SAIDI / SAIFI). 4️⃣ The TSO Multiplier Effect When one substation becomes intelligent, it’s progress. When hundreds do, it’s transformation. You enable system-wide orchestration, seamless renewable integration, and data-driven services — turning the grid into a living, adaptive system. 💡And then it becomes much more then just an innovation project. It’s a fundamental transformation of your grid strategy. And you want to make your choice now. #IEC61850 #digitalsubstation

FT 250 executives call for UK grid upgrades to support AI datacentre expansion plans: A poll by the Energy Networks Association reveals FT 250 attitudes towards the state of the UK’s electrical grids #Technology #ComputerWeekly

Post 2 of 3: The Fatal Flaws of Centralized Grid Management The electric grid is becoming decentralized and digitized, yet our control architecture remains stuck in a centralized, 20th-century model. This legacy, cloud-based approach for managing Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) is structurally fragile and fundamentally ill-equipped for a modern, two-way grid. Here are the four fatal flaws of the traditional "master/slave" architecture: The Scalability Ceiling: Centralized cloud servers have finite capacity. As DERs grow from thousands to millions, high-frequency data exchange creates critical bottlenecks, leading to performance degradation and limiting program growth. This is a classic system design failure at production scale. The Latency Lag: Control signals travel a long, convoluted path from the utility to a distant cloud server and back. This round-trip time can take seconds or even minutes, making these systems too slow for high-value grid services that require sub-second response times. The Interoperability Nightmare: Each manufacturer's proprietary cloud creates data silos and forces utilities into costly, brittle integration cycles. This vendor lock-in stifles innovation and prevents a unified, real-time view of grid-edge resources. The Single Point of Failure: These centralized systems are inherently fragile. A single bug, outage, or cyberattack on an OEM's cloud could render thousands of DERs unresponsive, creating a significant reliability risk. The solution is not an incremental improvement but a radical architectural shift: moving intelligence, communication, and control from the centralized cloud to the grid edge. In the final post of this series, we will explore the paradigm-shifting solution: an edge-first architecture, enabled by new technologies and open standards, and the compelling business case for its adoption. The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) IntelliSmart Infra #SmartGrid #GridModernization #DistributedEnergy #DERs #CentralizedVsDecentralized #FutureOfEnergy #EnergyTechnology #GridReliability #EdgeComputing #Utility

We have seen digital revolutions before: from mainframes to laptops, rotary phones to iPhones. Now, it’s the grid’s turn. In Latitude Media, CTSA’s Managing Partner Anna Demeo explores how solid-state technology is reshaping the grid and what it means for utilities, data centers, and the broader energy transition.

Insight from Anna Demeo on the potential of solid state power to transform the grid. 'If solid state for power infrastructure sounds like a unicorn, that’s because it is. History has shown us that the most transformative innovations always carry that quality; personal computers, once unthinkable, became commonplace; cell phones reshaped the telecommunications industry; the internet redefined every industry with AI poised to redefine them yet again. Each of these breakthroughs seemed improbable at first, yet they became the foundation for entirely new eras of progress."