Aligning Cooling Power with Clean Energy and Storage Innovation

Introduction
As data-centres and high-density compute clusters expand, their power and cooling demands are rising dramatically. At the same time, global imperatives around decarbonization and sustainability are forcing the infrastructure world to rethink not only how we cool, but how we power and store that power. The seamless integration of renewable energy, advanced storage systems, and cooling infrastructure is becoming a key differentiator for next-gen facilities.

Renewables + Cooling: What’s Changing

Traditionally, power for large compute facilities came from grid supply supplemented by diesel generators. Cooling systems similarly were powered by grid electricity and mechanical chillers. Today, several new factors are changing the equation:

• Data-centre operators are increasingly sourcing renewable-energy PPAs or investing in on-site generation (solar, wind).

• Energy storage systems (ESS) are being used to buffer renewables, reduce peak grid draw, and provide backup for power and cooling systems.

• Cooling systems themselves are now being designed to take advantage of storage and renewables — for example, ice-thermal-storage systems, chilled-water storage, and demand-shifting chillers. For example, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) describes an “Energy Storing and Efficient Air Conditioner” that integrates energy storage with cooling for grid-benefit. NREL

Advanced Storage: Enabling Flexibility

Advanced storage systems (beyond just lithium-ion batteries) are evolving rapidly. They provide longer duration, faster responsiveness, and sometimes thermal-coupled storage. For example, recent research highlights hybrid energy-storage systems as a more versatile and efficient approach to grid-scale storage. SpringerOpen Also, storage is playing a role in data-centre infrastructure: for example, a liquid-cooled energy-storage system was recently launched by Sungrow for commercial & industrial use. SUNGROW

Why This Matters for Cooling Power

When cooling and power are considered together with renewables and storage, operators can unlock several strategic benefits:

• Peak-shaving and demand-shifting: By storing energy during periods of low cost (or high renewable generation) and using it (or using thermal-storage) during peak hours, cooling power draw from the grid can be reduced, lowering demand charges and grid stress.

• Resilience and reliability: Storage provides backup capabilities for both power and cooling. If the grid hits limits or renewables fluctuate, stored energy can keep cooling loops running, protecting compute loads.

• Reduced carbon footprint: Powering cooling systems from renewable-backed supply or on-site generation improves sustainability metrics and corporate ESG credentials.

• Thermal integration and storage: Some novel cooling systems integrate thermal-energy storage (TES) allowing chillers to run when renewable power is abundant or cheap, and then use stored cold water/ice for cooling later.

Implementation Trends and Examples

• Partnerships between renewable/energy-storage firms and data-centre operators are becoming more frequent — for example proposals of gigawatt-scale storage projects to feed U.S. data centres. Energy-Storage.News

• Modular prefabricated data-centres are being launched which combine cooling, power delivery, storage modules and renewable-integration out of the box. PR Newswire

• Advanced vendors are designing liquid-cooled energy-storage systems to enhance the interface between storage and cooling/power infrastructure. Solar Power World

Challenges and Strategic Considerations

• Site and load matching: Renewable generation (solar, wind) and storage must be sized and located appropriately to meet cooling and compute demands, which may be 24/7. Storage that runs out overnight or during low-renewable periods risks reliability.

• Capital and cost-justification: On-site generation and storage add CAPEX and complexity; the pay-back must come from reduced grid charges, carbon offsets, or operational resilience.

• Integration complexity: Power systems, cooling loops, thermal storage, renewable generation and backup systems need to be tightly integrated — not siloed.

• Regulatory and grid-connection issues: Renewables and storage often require permits, interconnection studies, and grid-operator approvals which can slow deployment.

• Operational flexibility: The cooling system must be able to respond to variable input (renewables) and support load shifts. Thermal inertia, storage capacity, and control systems must be designed accordingly.

Strategic Outlook

Facilities that integrate power generation, storage and cooling into a unified architecture will have a competitive edge — lower operating cost, higher reliability, better sustainability credentials. Providers that treat power-and-cooling as separate will increasingly struggle in the era of dense AI workloads and high energy cost/constraint environments.

Closing Thoughts and Looking Ahead

We expect to see more innovations at the intersection of cooling, storage and renewables: for example, cooling systems that run when solar is available and store cold for peak hours; data-centre campuses with onsite solar, wind and battery storage directly tied to cooling loops; and further adoption of liquid-cooling systems designed for integration with renewable-backed power. The future of “cooling power” is as much about how you power it and store it as it is about how you cool.

Serge Boudreaux – AI Hardware Technologies, Montreal, Quebec
Peter Jonathan Wilcheck – Co-Editor, Miami, Florida

References

1. “Grid Modernization News – National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)”, NREL. https://www.nrel.gov/grid/news/program/2025/cooler-buildings-stronger-grid-new-approach-to-air-conditioning-with-built-in-energy-storage NREL

2. “Recent advancement in energy storage technologies and their …”, SustainEnergyRes (Springer). https://sustainenergyres.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40807-024-00120-4 SpringerOpen

3. “Sungrow Launches PowerStack 255CS: A Next-Gen C&I Energy Storage System Redefining Efficiency, Safety and Convenience”, Sungrow News. https://en.sungrowpower.com/newsDetail/6334/sungrow-launches-powerstack-255cs-a-next-gen-c-i-energy-storage-system-redefining-efficiency-safety-and-convenience SUNGROW

4. “Pacifico, Zenith Volts and Fermi America propose gigawatt-scale energy solutions with BESS to feed US data centres”, Energy Storage News. https://www.energy-storage.news/pacifico-zenith-volts-and-fermi-america-propose-gigawatt-scale-energy-solutions-with-bess-to-feed-us-data-centres/ Energy-Storage.News

5. “10 cutting-edge innovations redefining energy storage solutions”, Power-Technology. https://www.power-technology.com/features/ten-cutting-edge-innovations-redefining-energy-storage-solutions/ Power Technology