Tencent has recently inaugurated a microgrid at its Cloud Data Center situated in Tianjin. With a total capacity of 10.54 MW, the microgrid is poised to generate an estimated 12 million kWh of electricity annually, equivalent to sustaining 6,000 households, as per the company’s official announcement.
Data centers, notorious for their voracious energy consumption, are witnessing an exponential surge in demand, especially with the burgeoning popularity of AI-driven applications. The appetite for computing power has escalated significantly, surpassing that of conventional programs.
In response to this escalating demand, data center operators are increasingly turning to microgrids to enhance electrical resilience, curtail energy expenditures, and fulfill sustainability objectives.
A microgrid represents a localized, self-reliant energy system capable of operating autonomously from the primary power grid (in off-grid mode) or in coordination with it (in on-grid mode).
These systems incorporate distributed energy resources (DERs), such as solar photovoltaic (PV) plants, wind turbines, battery storage units, and conventional generators, managed through advanced software and communication technologies.
Microgrids can cater to diverse scales, from small energy communities to individual residences, operating either independently or in tandem with the primary grid, thereby augmenting efficiency, resilience, and reducing carbon emissions.
Tencent’s commitment to sustainability is underscored by its extensive installation of rooftop solar panels across its facilities nationwide. This initiative has culminated in an aggregate installed capacity exceeding 50 MW by 2023, effectively transforming data centers into dual-purpose entities functioning as power plants.
The Tianjin microgrid is further fortified by a battery energy storage system, designed to regulate the fluctuations inherent in solar energy generation. Leveraging AI and machine learning, Tencent has developed a sophisticated control system capable of processing data from multiple energy sources and forecasting future electricity demands and generation patterns.
With a commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030, Tencent is slated to procure over 1.3 billion kWh of renewable energy in 2024 alone. The company declares that renewable energy currently accounts for 54% of its annual electricity consumption across its data centers, with over 70% of its self-constructed campuses powered by green energy sources.