KEES OOSTERHOFF
ENERGY & POWER
“ As data centres scale to support AI and high-performance computing, the tolerance for uncertainty shrinks”
Kees Oosterhoff Yokogawa Expert Support Manager in Europe Yokogawa Test & Measurement
Take uninterruptible power supplies, for example. AI training and inference have created a relatively new phenomenon: pulsed loads. Workloads switch between idle and full almost instantaneously, creating erratic power swings from 0 % to 100 % in milliseconds. These rapid transitions test the limits of UPS response mechanisms, including smoothing algorithms and transient handling capabilities.
In extreme situations, such as blackouts, instability can propagate upstream. Pulses reflected back to generators can resonate with mechanical systems, risking breakdown at critical times. These are not theoretical concerns, yet the required data to fully understand them is only now becoming available through more advanced measurement.
Modern orchestration platforms have also added dynamic behaviour. They actively shift workloads across clusters, improving flexibility from a software allocation perspective. However, the underlying energy infrastructure remains physically fixed, meaning metrics like CPU or GPU utilisation fail to directly reflect real electrical efficiency, despite rack-level power being known. This creates a visibility gap when aligning workload utilisation with actual electrical losses, thermal impacts and power quality effects.
“ As data centres scale to support AI and high-performance computing, the tolerance for uncertainty shrinks,” says Kees Oosterhoff, Yokogawa Expert Support Manager in Europe of Yokogawa Test & Measurement.
“ Operators and engineers need synchronised, high-precision measurements to understand dynamic power behaviour, validate performance and build infrastructure that is resilient, efficient and ready for the next generation of workloads.”
KEES OOSTERHOFF
TITLE: YOKOGAWA EXPERT SUPPORT MANAGER IN EUROPE
COMPANY: YOKOGAWA TEST & MEASUREMENT
INDUSTRY: ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING
Kees has more than 35 years of industry experience in precision measurement, power analysis, system validation and advanced test solutions.
56 September 2026