Chip-to-Grid Data Center Initiative

NREL's Chip-to-Grid (C2G) initiative addresses challenges—faced across utilities, developers, the grid, and neighborhoods—to enable data center siting, design, build, powering, performance, cooling, local support, and energy-efficient operation.

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The C2G initiative is a holistic approach designed to address the multifaceted challenges inherent in data center planning, capacity, security, and energy management—from chips and algorithms to racks, facilities, and campuses, to distribution, transmission, and generation. Key goals include maximizing demand flexibility, promoting advanced cooling solutions, optimizing energy use, and improving grid integration through hybrid microgrid power systems.

Chip-to-Grid Co-Optimization and Integrated Energy Systems: Algorithms/Software, Racks, Facilities, Campus/Onsite, Distribution, Transmission, Generation, and Chip.

Addressing Data Center Challenges From Chips to Grid

C2G considers all aspects of data center planning and design, development, and management to collectively optimize and balance performance, cost, and resource use while maintaining reliable operations. For more information, read the U.S. Department of Energy's Best Practices Guide for Energy-Efficient Data Design.

C2G leverages NREL's advanced tools, capabilities, platforms, and facilities, including the renowned ARIES: Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems platform, work in projects such as ARPA-E COOLERCHIPS, and the Energy Systems Integration Facility—which makes endeavors such as C2G feasible.

Accommodating Data Center Load Growth

As a primary driver of substantial and often rapid load growth, data centers can strain aging power infrastructure. The geographic distribution of data centers creates localized grid stress, and their high power densities necessitate significant cooling. Additionally, the lack of data transparency and difficulties in load forecasting present challenges to energy infrastructure.

C2G strategies—such as predictive models for artificial intelligence (AI) workload power demand, dynamic workload scheduling, and demand response programs—aim to mitigate these issues and improve grid management and data center operations, ensuring that data centers can adapt to varying energy conditions and contribute to grid stability.

Partnering for Data Center Success

C2G is aimed at creating a seamless and integrated approach to data center development and addressing problems—such as interoperability and end-to-end utility to data center compatibility—that no one organization or sector can solve alone.

By fostering collaboration among industry, government, and academia, the C2G initiative aims to transform data centers into more efficient and resilient units within the energy ecosystem. This includes:

  • Driving the fastest AI data center construction timelines and powering
  • Overcoming market fragmentation and supply chain limits
  • Innovating across liquid cooling and modulization
  • Forecasting demand and flexibility
  • Using existing grid assets to lower energy costs for consumers.

Read more about NREL's invitation to collaborate around C2G.

Contact

For more information or to get involved, contact [email protected].

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Last Updated June 26, 2025