In Alaska, a Data Center Inside a Power Plant, Inside a Microgrid - CleanTechnica

The article discusses Cordova, Alaska’s innovative integration of a data center within its existing microgrid-powered hydroelectric facility, highlighting a localized approach to both energy and data management. Cordova Electric Cooperative has long focused on sourcing energy locally through hydropower and battery storage, reducing reliance on diesel imports for its remote community of 2,600 residents. Building on this success, Cordova partnered with Greensparc and several national laboratories to pilot a modular edge data center directly inside the Humpback Creek hydroelectric plant. This setup leverages the plant’s cold mountain water for efficient server cooling and uses surplus hydropower that would otherwise go unused, aiming for a highly energy-efficient operation with a power usage effectiveness (PUE) close to 1. The project was supported by advanced modeling tools like the ARIES digital twin developed by the National Laboratory of the Rockies and other labs, which helped validate the microgrid’s ability to support the unique power demands of data centers. The pilot data center provides