en.Wedoany.com Reported - Dr. Ben Krikler, Head of Energised Futures, Centrica's innovation incubator, recently noted that direct current (DC) microgrid technology has the potential to improve energy efficiency in data centers, with the key being to rethink how power reaches facilities.
At the Data Centre LIVE event, Dr. Ben Krikler shared the potential of DC infrastructure to enhance environmental efficiency in data centers. As operators' demand for scalable and sustainable power grows, DC microgrids are emerging as a technology worth attention.
Energised Futures is Centrica's research and innovation incubator, focused on exploring emerging energy technologies and accelerating the energy transition through collaboration with universities, startups, and industry. Regarding translating research into commercial products, Dr. Ben Krikler stated that this is one of the most difficult tasks. The organization's approach is to first act on ideas with a clear business vision, not just focusing on an interesting idea or technology, but requiring a vision for a complete solution.
Energised Futures' path from lab testing to deployment begins with clear customer outcomes. Subsequently, the company works with partners to validate technology, test the value chain, and prove commercial viability before scaling solutions. The company has also invested heavily in testing capabilities, including a new £35 million ($46 million) laboratory facility to evaluate emerging energy technologies before they enter real-world environments.
Among the most closely watched projects within Energised Futures is a pilot program centered on DC microgrids. Dr. Ben Krikler pointed out that data centers prefer to connect to DC microgrids, hoping to receive energy in DC form. If properly connected via a DC microgrid, there is significant potential for energy efficiency gains. The pilot has been successfully launched and is planned for rollout this year.
This concept aligns with the industry's growing focus on reducing conversion losses between AC and DC systems. By integrating solar power generation, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure through a DC architecture, operators can improve overall energy efficiency while supporting increasingly heavy workloads.
Dr. Ben Krikler, who has a background in particle physics and previously worked at CERN, believes that energy innovation cannot be viewed solely from a technical perspective, but also involves the "energy trilemma" of security and affordability. In the data center sector, this balance is particularly important, as power demand continues to grow alongside increasing pressure to improve sustainability performance.
Beyond technological innovation, Energised Futures evaluates projects based on broader environmental and social outcomes, seeking technologies that deliver commercial value while supporting decarbonization and broader participation in the energy transition. The DC microgrid pilot is an example of energy providers exploring new infrastructure models to improve efficiency without sacrificing reliability.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
