David Porter: From Grid Load to Grid Asset: How Data Centers Can Support the Grid

In this episode, Raymond Hawkins, Chief Revenue Officer at Compass Datacenters, is joined by David Porter, Vice President of Electrification and Sustainable Energy Strategy at EPRI—formerly known as the Electric Power Research Institute. With a career spanning mechanical engineering at Duke Energy, stints across the US energy landscape, and over 17 years at EPRI, David Porter brings deep industry insight into the intersection of energy and data infrastructure.

Their discussion explores the rapid evolution of data center power demand, shifting from kilowatt to gigawatt requirements within a decade. The conversation unpacks the unique challenges this poses for power utilities, such as mismatched development timelines, grid transmission constraints, and the need for adaptable grid-responsive infrastructure. Key topics include EPRI’s nonprofit, science-based research mission; the rise of grid-interactive data centers; the DC Flex initiative for flexible load management; and the critical impact of load growth on grid affordability and efficiency. The episode offers a detailed look at how collaboration between data centers and utilities can enhance grid resilience and lower costs for everyone.

Timestamped Overview
00:00 Intro
03:25 EPRI's public benefit mission
09:50 Data centers and electric transport
13:02 Energy demand forecasting for developers
15:00 Challenges with data center power constraints
17:49 Transmission vs. distribution systems
21:45 Improving energy transmission efficiency
23:35 Bridging data centers and utilities
28:06 Evolution of the Data Center Industry
31:42 Explaining the Flex Mosaic framework
35:30 Planning for grid capacity challenges
38:31 Importance of Frequency in Power Grids
41:05 Energy demand and frequency issues
45:56 Golfing chat