Hyperscale Data Centers and How to Power Them
Burns & McDonnell (BenchMark) · Keegan Odle, Tom Parker et al.
This Burns & McDonnell BenchMark article discusses how hyperscale campuses get power when utility capacity lags. It covers islanded rapid-deployment microgrids, energy storage and longer-term options such as SMRs.
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Overview
The article is a BenchMark piece in which Burns & McDonnell power and mission-critical leaders discuss how hyperscale campuses obtain power when utility capacity lags. Its authors are Keegan Odle, Tom Parker, Chris Ruckman and Christine Wood, and it is dated 2025.
According to the text, hyperscale campuses commonly range from 60 MW to several hundred MW; 12 MW used to be considered large. Rapid-deployment microgrids run reciprocating engines and/or industrial turbines in parallel, islanded, until utility capacity arrives, and later transition to utility service. These can be supported by energy storage and by longer-term options.
On storage, long-duration storage of 12+ hours is promising but still needs lower capex and scaled manufacturing. SMRs are not expected to be viable for another six to eight years. The article also notes that hybrid modular/prefabricated construction is more common than fully modular builds.
The lessons are practical: give the utility an accurate load-ramp schedule, sign the service agreement early and build close to existing transmission. The article is a consultancy viewpoint and contains no detailed engineering calculation or cost data.
Key points
- Hyperscale campuses commonly range from 60 MW to several hundred MW; 12 MW used to be considered large.
- Rapid-deployment microgrids run reciprocating engines and/or industrial turbines in parallel, islanded, until utility capacity arrives.
- Long-duration storage of 12+ hours is promising but needs lower capex and scaled manufacturing.
- SMRs are not expected to be viable for another six to eight years.
- Lesson: give the utility an accurate load-ramp schedule, sign the service agreement early, build close to existing transmission.
- Hybrid modular/prefabricated construction is more common than fully modular builds.
- Authors: Keegan Odle, Tom Parker, Chris Ruckman, Christine Wood; 2025.
Using it in design
- Capture a phased load-ramp schedule (MW by date) as a first-class input.
- Let the electrical concept include a temporary islanded generation phase before utility connection.
- Warn when the ramp exceeds the confirmed utility capacity for a phase.
- In site selection, treat proximity to existing transmission as a criterion.
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Who should read it
Electrical designers, developers and energy strategists planning power supply for hyperscale campuses.
Publication details
- Authors
- Keegan Odle; Tom Parker; Chris Ruckman; Christine Wood
- Publisher
- Burns & McDonnell (BenchMark)
- Year
- 2025
- Document language
- English
- Source type
- Expert / community
- Access
- Free to read
- Licence
- Copyright retained; citation only — the publisher’s terms apply to the original document
Citation
Keegan Odle; Tom Parker; Chris Ruckman; Christine Wood (2025). Hyperscale Data Centers and How to Power Them. Burns & McDonnell (BenchMark). https://info.burnsmcd.com/benchmark/article/hyperscale-data-centers-and-how-to-power-them
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