Data Centers

AI and high-performance computing drive power demand, accelerating behind-the-meter, islanded generation. AspenTech delivers utility-grade monitoring, control, forecasting and optimization to run data center power islands as integrated, reliable energy systems.

AI and high-performance computing are driving unprecedented, fast-swinging power demand at data center campuses. Meeting mission-critical uptime requirements means treating on-site generation, storage, substations and grid interconnection, if available, as one coordinated power system — not a collection of separate assets:

  • Strengthen power reliability across the full power island
  • Orchestrate and dispatch generation, storage and grid power as one integrated power island
  • Unlock new value through grid services and market participation

Manage Rapid Load Growth and Power Complexity

  • Coordinate large-scale behind-the-meter generation, utility interconnections, substations, storage and critical load requirements as one integrated power system
  • Improve situational awareness across the campus power island as load and generation conditions change
  • Support faster, more confident decisions as data center campuses scale

Operate the Power Island with Utility-Grade Reliability

  • Integrate real-time SCADA, microgrid control and energy management into one unified operating environment
  • Continuously optimize and dispatch generation and storage to serve critical load through grid-connected and islanded operation
  • Support faster operator response with grid-aware visualization, alarms, forecasting and decision support

Turn Energy Flexibility into Operational and Economic Value

  • Dispatch energy resources based on load forecasts, asset availability, fuel cost and market signals
  • Unlock value from energy flexibility through demand management, grid services and market participation

Design and Optimize Integrated Power and Cooling Systems

  • Model power and cooling systems in a single digital environment to evaluate capacity, thermal performance and energy efficiency
  • Coordinate hybrid power sources and energy storage to match dynamic load changes and maintain continuous operational stability
  • Quantify system reliability and resiliency to proactively identify bottlenecks, mitigate risk and optimize asset performance
Highlighted Solutions and Products

Optimize Data Center Power Islands

  • Maintain reliable power for critical data center loads
  • Optimize on-site generation, storage and load, grid-connected or islanded
  • Balance electricity cost and emissions goals with forecasting and optimization

Integrate Power Generation and Microgrid Control

  • Unify generation, storage and electrical control on one platform
  • Help achieve 99.99% reliability with fault-tolerant supervisory control
  • Bring power online faster with digital twin validation

Coordinate Power, Cooling and Operations

  • Speed project delivery from design through commissioning
  • Support consistent cooling performance as AI workloads grow
  • Detect early warning signs with continuous monitoring and asset insights

Scale Data Center Performance as One System

  • ​Design and operate power, cooling and control as one coordinated system
  • Simplify integration for owners, EPCs and operators
  • Keep performance predictable and repeatable as capacity scales
FAQs

Data Center Power Management
Frequently Asked Questions

What is a data center power island?

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A data center power island is an integrated on-site power system that combines generation, energy storage, electrical infrastructure and the data center’s critical load, meaning the servers and supporting systems that must stay powered. Depending on the site design, a power island can operate connected to the utility grid or independently in islanded operation.

How are large-scale data center power islands controlled and managed?

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Large-scale data center power islands use two coordinated layers of control: Energy management: AspenTech Microgrid Management System™ (MMS) provides grid visibility, forecasting, scheduling, optimization and coordination across generation, storage and load. Plant and electrical control: Emerson Ovation™ provides integrated control of power generation, balance-of-plant systems (the supporting systems around the generators) and electrical infrastructure. Together, the two layers connect system-wide energy management with the real-time plant and electrical control required to reliably deliver power to critical data center loads.

How does a data center power island maintain power reliability?

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A data center power island maintains reliability by balancing generation and load under normal conditions and keeping enough capacity and flexibility to respond when demand or operating conditions change. AspenTech Microgrid Management System™ (MMS) supports this by monitoring generation reserves and coordinating generation, storage and load. Real-time monitoring, generation and load balancing, forecasting and scheduling show operators which resources are available, helping them maintain reliable power to critical data center loads.

How does a data center power island adapt when operating conditions change?

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A data center power island adapts by updating its operating plan when data center load, generation availability, storage or grid conditions change. AspenTech MMS combines real-time system information with updated load and generation forecasts to help optimize and schedule a revised operating plan. It then supports rescheduling and dispatching resources against that plan, while operators monitor execution through real-time visualization, trending and alarms.

How does AspenTech MMS optimize data center power in islanded and grid-connected operation?

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AspenTech MMS optimizes generation, storage and load in a data center power island, whether the site runs islanded or connected to the grid. Forecasting, scheduling and optimization help determine how to use available energy resources to meet load while considering operating constraints, electricity cost and emissions objectives. For grid-connected sites, optimization can consider both on-site resources and purchased grid power when scheduling and dispatching the available energy supply.

How can a grid-connected data center create additional value from its on-site generation?

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A grid-connected data center can create additional value by using its on-site generation and storage to do more than serve its own campus load. Depending on regional market and interconnection requirements, these resources can support the grid and participate in energy markets, creating opportunities to monetize excess or flexible generation while continuing to support data center operations.

What is AspenTech Microgrid Management System™ (MMS)?

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AspenTech Microgrid Management System™ (MMS) is the energy management layer of a data center power island. It provides grid visibility, forecasting, scheduling, optimization and coordination across generation, storage and load, and supports both islanded and grid-connected operation. AspenTech MMS works alongside Emerson Ovation™, which provides integrated control of power generation, balance-of-plant systems and electrical infrastructure.