David Porter: From Grid Load to Grid Asset: How Data Centers Can Support the Grid

In this episode, Raymond Hawkins, Chief Revenue Officer at Compass Datacenters, is joined by David Porter, Vice President of Electrification and Sustainable Energy Strategy at EPRI—formerly known as the Electric Power Research Institute. With a career spanning mechanical engineering at Duke Energy, stints across the US energy landscape, and over 17 years at EPRI, David Porter brings deep industry insight into the intersection of energy and data infrastructure.

Their discussion explores the rapid evolution of data center power demand, shifting from kilowatt to gigawatt requirements within a decade. The conversation unpacks the unique challenges this poses for power utilities, such as mismatched development timelines, grid transmission constraints, and the need for adaptable grid-responsive infrastructure. Key topics include EPRI’s nonprofit, science-based research mission; the rise of grid-interactive data centers; the DC Flex initiative for flexible load management; and the critical impact of load growth on grid affordability and efficiency. The episode offers a detailed look at how collaboration between data centers and utilities can enhance grid resilience and lower costs for everyone.

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Intro

03:25 EPRI's public benefit mission

09:50 Data centers and electric transport

13:02 Energy demand forecasting for developers

15:00 Challenges with data center power constraints

17:49 Transmission vs. distribution systems

21:45 Improving energy transmission efficiency

23:35 Bridging data centers and utilities

28:06 Evolution of the Data Center Industry