Data Centers Increase Risk of Winter electricity Shortages Across large swaths of U.S.
WASHINGTON D.C. – A new assessment from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) warns that the rapid growth of data centers, coupled wiht winter weather challenges, is creating an “elevated risk” of electricity shortages across seven regional power grids in the U.S. and Canada. The report highlights increasing strain on the power grid as demand for electricity surges, notably during peak hours.
The International Energy Agency anticipates data centers will consume nearly half of all new electricity supply added to the U.S. grid through 2030.NERC’s assessment identifies areas facing elevated risk as spanning from the Maritimes provinces in Canada through New England, the Carolinas, Tennessee, texas, and parts of the western United States, including Oregon, Washington, Utah and Idaho.
Texas faces unique challenges,with peak winter demand now frequently occurring outside of solar generation hours. The state’s popularity as a location for data centers is also lengthening periods of peak demand. While improvements have been made to the grid run by the Electric Reliability council of Texas (ERCOT), including additions of battery storage and demand response programs, NERC cautions that a severe storm like Winter Storm Uri in 2021 could still overwhelm the system.Maintaining sufficient battery charge during extended periods of high demand will be “challenging,” NERC stated.
ERCOT, however, expressed confidence, stating on its website that it “anticipates there will be sufficient generation to meet customer demand this winter,” based on expected weather conditions.
The assessment also focuses on the reliability of natural gas supply, which powers over 40% of U.S.electricity generation and faces increased demand for both power and heating during cold weather. while natural gas delivery to power plants has improved in the last two winters compared to 2021 and 2022, freeze protection measures for gas infrastructure remain largely voluntary, leading to inconsistent safeguards.
“Grid operators in areas that rely on single-fuel gas-fired generators are exposed to unanticipated generator loss during cold snaps when gas supply interruptions are more prevalent,” said Mark Olson, NERC’s manager for reliability assessment, in a release.
