THE DATA CENTRE INTERVIEW“ To be a‘ good citizen’ and a good partner, data centres need to work closely with power companies from day one,” Gerhard says.
“ They need to plan how to manage these big changes in energy use so they don’ t disrupt the grid. Because we understand what utility companies need, we can work with NVIDIA and others to build smarter data centres that are better for the power grid.”
This collaboration is directly tied to what the industry calls the energy triangle, the delicate balancing act between sustainability, affordability and security of supply. AI computing strains the security corner of this triangle. To keep the grid from collapsing under the weight of this new demand, utilities enforce strict grid codes, which dictate exactly how much power a facility can pull and when.
Gerhard emphasises that data centres must work hand-in-hand with energy providers to balance this triangle, ensuring that the relentless push for AI advancement doesn’ t compromise the stability of the public power grid.
The NVIDIA partnership To meet the immense power requirements of next-generation AI chips, Hitachi Energy is collaborating closely with NVIDIA on a new 800-volt architecture for future data centres.
26 August 2026