A Proposal to Connect Large Data Centers and Associated Power Plants in the Power System

Abstract

Construction of large Data Centers (DCs) facilities is usually accompanied by facilities for the production of electrical energy. It is necessary to connect these objects to the electric power system (PS) in order to provide DC power supply, and to distribute the produced electrical energy from power plants. For this purpose, it is necessary to plan the utilization of existing and build new substations (SS). Due to optimal exploitation of existing resources and planning of new ones, while preserving the stability of the PS, the connections are made in conveniently selected places. The proposal for the place and method of connecting DC to the specific PS is dealt with in the first part of the paper. Existing elements of the SS which are meant for this purpose and new elements that need to be implemented, as well as their position in the PS, are listed. The second part of the paper refers to the method of connecting sources of electrical energy, which are part of DC in a broader sense, to the PS. A overview of the limitations for existing SS resources capacity and a proposal for building new SS is given. When connecting any of the mentioned objects, it is necessary to take care to preserve redundant power supply of the DC. Information exchange between DC communication systems, electrical energy production facilities and the PS enables quick and efficient reaction to possible disturbances or complete malfunction of individual DC facilities in a broader sense, parts of the PS, or PS as a whole. The proposal for communication connection of DC and PS is processed in the third part of the paper. At the end of the paper, a general conclusion is presented on the way to realize DC connection in a broader sense, based on the concrete example of realization that was previously described.