SoSo CAD
Research paperFree to read2025

Enhancing Data Center Low-Voltage Ride-Through

ACM e-Energy '26 (author version on arXiv) · Yiheng Xie, Wenqi Cui et al.

A study of how large datacenters can meet emerging low-voltage ride-through (LVRT) grid codes instead of tripping to UPS at the first voltage dip.

Go to the original source
On this page

Overview

This study examines how large datacenters can meet emerging low-voltage ride-through (LVRT) grid codes instead of tripping to UPS at the first voltage dip. It was prepared for ACM e-Energy '26, and the author version is open access as arXiv:2510.03867. The motivation is the 10 July 2024 permanent fault on a 340 kV line in the US Eastern Interconnection, which caused 6 voltage events over 82 seconds (42-66 ms each, 0.24-0.4 pu); about 1.5 GW of voltage-sensitive data-center load was lost, and system voltage rose to 1.07 pu.

UPS systems typically disconnect datacenters from the grid at the first sign of a disturbance, so from the grid perspective datacenters have low fault ride-through tolerance. The study reviews device standards (IEC 62040-3 for UPS, ITI/CBEMA for IT) against proposed large-load grid codes in Denmark, France, Ireland and ERCOT, and shows a large gap between them. The device standards are the least strict compared with proposed TSO grid codes.

The EU Demand Connection Code (Regulation 2016/1388) provides the framework for demand-facility fault ride-through; Energinet (Denmark) has one of the most stringent LVRT specs in effect, while RTE, EirGrid and ERCOT proposals were under review. The authors design centralized and decentralized voltage controllers that coordinate cooling, computing loads (DVFS and workload), UPS units and utility-scale batteries inside the facility network, and test them on an integrated IEEE 14-bus plus datacenter distribution model. In the results, uncontrolled operation leads to tripping due to voltage violations, while both controllers achieve LVRT; the centralized one degrades with actuation delay. This is a simulation study; results may vary with real site characteristics, and the full text was not read.

Key points

  1. On 10 July 2024 a permanent fault on a 340 kV line in the US Eastern Interconnection caused 6 voltage events over 82 seconds (42-66 ms each, 0.24-0.4 pu); about 1.5 GW of voltage-sensitive data-center load was lost and system voltage rose to 1.07 pu.
  2. UPS systems typically disconnect datacenters at the first sign of a disturbance, so from the grid perspective fault ride-through tolerance is low.
  3. IEC 62040-3 (UPS) and ITI/CBEMA (IT loads) are the least strict compared with proposed TSO grid codes, with a substantial performance gap.
  4. The EU Demand Connection Code (Regulation 2016/1388) provides the framework; Energinet has one of the most stringent LVRT specs; RTE, EirGrid and ERCOT proposals were under review.
  5. Controllable fast resources: cooling systems, computing loads (DVFS/workload), UPS units and utility-scale batteries.
  6. Uncontrolled operation leads to tripping due to voltage violations; both controllers achieve LVRT, and the centralized one degrades with actuation delay.

Using it in design

  • Add a ride-through check to the electrical module: compare the selected UPS input tolerance (IEC 62040-3 class) and IT tolerance (ITI/CBEMA) against the applicable grid-code LVRT envelope for the site's region, and flag the gap.
  • Expose UPS transfer-threshold and delay settings as design parameters.
  • Recommend grid-forming or voltage-supporting UPS or site BESS for sites above a large-load threshold.
  • Document the July 2024 1.5 GW load-loss event in the tool's help as the rationale.

Monthly newsletter · free

Keep your reading list current

Once a month: new library sources, changes to Turkish regulations and upcoming data centre events.

SoSo CAD

Review your power design in SoSo CAD

Inspect supply paths, equipment loads and UPS failure scenarios in one model.

Request a demo
Single-line diagram in the SoSo CAD power and capacity workspace

Who should read it

Electrical engineers assessing grid-connection codes, UPS selection and large-load connection.

Related standards

  • IEC 62040-3
  • ITI (CBEMA) curve
  • EU Regulation 2016/1388 (Demand Connection Code)

Publication details

Authors
Yiheng Xie; Wenqi Cui; Adam Wierman
Publisher
ACM e-Energy '26 (author version on arXiv)
Year
2025
Document number
arXiv:2510.03867
Document language
English
Source type
Scientific
Access
Free to read
Licence
CC BY 4.0 — share with attribution
Original licence note

arXiv record lists CC BY 4.0, but the PDF carries an ACM notice ('Publication rights licensed to ACM ... Not for redistribution'); because of the conflict it is kept as citation only

Citation

Yiheng Xie; Wenqi Cui; Adam Wierman (2025). Enhancing Data Center Low-Voltage Ride-Through. ACM e-Energy '26 (author version on arXiv). arXiv:2510.03867. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2510.03867

ElectricalUPSReliability

Events on this subject

Browse the events calendar

All content and rights belong to the respective authors and publishers. SoSo CAD provides only the citation, its own summary and a link to the source, and is not responsible for the sources' content.