Green energy microgrids hailed as cost-effective answer to UK's datacentre energy supply woes | Computer Weekly

"The government should consider expanding the availability of renewable microgrids as a cheaper and faster alternative to building nuclear small modular reactors (SMRs) to meet the energy needs of datacentres, according to the Centre for Net Zero (CNZ). The government is championing the use of nuclear small modular reactors (SMRs) as a possible answer to shoring up the nation's energy supplies, as part of its push to get UK energy grids running on clean energy by 2030."

""The UK is currently host to 523 datacentres, the third-highest of any nation globally, with at least nine more in development. The country is currently deciding how to power its datacentres of the future - and at what speed," said the CNZ. "As the UK seeks to grow its AI sector in the context of the Clean Power 2030 target, CNZ's research indicates that renewable microgrids could meet the majority of a large datacentre's electricity needs.""

"Microgrids typically generate electricity with the help of renewable sources, which is then stored in battery packs until it is needed, and are operated independently of main electricity grids. They can be used to power single buildings, or blocks of them can be knitted together to supply power to large-scale developments. "The UK needs to build five times more transmission infrastructure in the next five years than was built in the last three decades, which will be a lengthy and expensive process," said the CNZ."

Renewable microgrids can provide a faster, cheaper alternative to nuclear small modular reactors for meeting datacentre electricity demand. The UK currently hosts 523 datacentres, with at least nine more in development. Large datacentres can have the majority of their electricity needs met by local renewable microgrids. Microgrids generate power from renewable sources, store energy in battery packs, and operate independently of the main grid, enabling supply to single buildings or interconnected blocks. Building national transmission will require five times more infrastructure in the next five years than was built in the last three decades, making microgrids and private wires financially and logistically attractive.

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