Peak Management and Voltage Regulation using Demand Response from Green Data Centers

As demand for digital services, such as social media, business management, communication, and various online-based functions continues to increase, so does the need for additional Data Centers to store and process data. The growth of Data Centers in number and size raises significant concerns regarding power consumption, land use, and environmental impact. However, with the capability to control and optimize their electricity generation and consumption, Data Centers can effectively manage their own power demand. Additionally, combining flexible loads in Data Centers with the integration of both thermal and electrical storage and Renewable Energy Sources (RES) has the potential not only to optimize the facility’s energy management but also to provide support to the power grid when needed. By leveraging these capabilities, the overall power flexibility provided by Data Centers can offer Demand Response (DR) to meet the diverse needs of stakeholders in the electricity market, while simultaneously reducing energy consumption and environmental impacts. This paper focuses on leveraging DR from Green Data Centers (GDC) for peak load management and voltage regulation of the electric power grid. The strategies for using power flexibility within GDCs and their impact on the power grid are assessed through Quasi-Dynamic Simulation.