A data center in the Pacific Northwest is going to come online years earlier than expected due to siting a 62-MWh battery energy storage system on its campus, which will allow the data center to avoid waiting for the local utility to update its own load service to meet power needs.
Calibrant Energy will deliver a 31-MW/62-MWh BESS to Aligned Data Centers’ Pacific Northwest data center campus, bringing the battery online in 2026 and enabling the facility to scale operations earlier than would be possible with traditional utility upgrades.
Calibrant and Aligned have been partnering with a regional utility in the Pacific Northwest since the start of negotiations to explore flexibility as a means to increase and accelerate interconnection. Aligned’s adaptive data center solutions power customers’ most demanding cloud, AI, high-performance compute (HPC) and enterprise workloads.
“This project flips the script on how data centers access power,” said Phil Martin, CEO at Calibrant. “Rather than the false choice between waiting years for system upgrades or having to go off grid entirely, we’re working with leading data center providers like Aligned to use distributed energy solutions to facilitate and accelerate grid interconnection. This innovative model allows large power users to take control of their energy future while being stewards of their community – ensuring growth objectives are met in a manner that supports grid reliability, has minimal environmental impact, and doesn’t burden others with the costs.”
This will likely be the first time in the United States that a battery system is purpose-built to accelerate interconnection and bring a large-scale data center online. Developed using Calibrant’s Path to Power solution — a replicable, scalable approach that leverages on-site energy to overcome siting and capacity bottlenecks — the system functions as a grid-responsive asset, designed to discharge during peak demand, bolster grid reliability and ensure uninterrupted service for Aligned’s customers.
Although the name of the battery supplier was not revealed, Calibrant and Aligned stated they sourced equipment from American-based supply chains. Key equipment, including transformers, switchgear and batteries, were all manufactured and/or assembled in the United States.
“This strategic project redefines how we grow in power-constrained markets,” said Andrew Schaap, CEO at Aligned. “With this BESS, we’re converting our load from a potential grid liability into a dynamic grid asset, providing the regional utility with the tools needed to accelerate our ramp. And we’re doing it responsibly, without impacting ratepayers. We’re proud to partner with Calibrant on a new market-defining initiative, directly addressing the industry’s critical constraint of access to grid power. Their experience in serving large power users and critical facilities was instrumental in our ability to move quickly and efficiently.”
News item from Aligned
