In the realm of datacenters, securing a reliable energy supply is a constant concern. Industry expert Steve Carlini from Schneider Electric offers insight into possible solutions. In the short term, on-site generation using gas turbines is viable, while exploring possibilities like small nuclear reactors remains a long-term consideration. However, there’s no universal solution to the power challenge.

Current demand for datacenter capacity is outpacing supply, particularly in Europe, where finding adequate power and land is increasingly difficult. Simultaneously, AI advancements drive a need for more powerful infrastructure, exacerbating the power supply issue.

Immediate remedies could include implementing gas turbines on-site, complemented by solar, wind, and fuel cells. For the future, leveraging nuclear energy – such as small modular reactors (SMRs) – is a topic of exploration, although regulatory hurdles remain.

Carlini points out that SMRs might be part of the solution due to their efficiency and potential safety. Still, given the current technological landscape, reliance on diverse power sources is more pragmatic.

The focus isn’t just on a single technology but on building a complex ecosystem combining grids, natural gas, renewables, and potentially nuclear. As the industry braces for these changes, monitoring and control systems become crucial to seamlessly manage these power sources. Schneider Electric is poised to develop such systems and help bridge the gap between demand and supply in datacenters.