Solar, BESS and Hybrid Power Supply for Data Centers
إمداد مراكز البيانات بالطاقة الشمسية وتخزين البطاريات والطاقة الهجينة
- Next date
- 11–15 January 2027Muscat
- Fees from
- £2,950per delegate
- Formats
- Classroom · Online4 sessions
- Duration
- 5 daysCertificate
Overview
Data center operators are under growing pressure to secure large amounts of reliable, low-carbon power at a time when grid connections are slow and expensive to obtain. On-site solar generation, battery energy storage systems and hybrid power plants are moving from pilot projects to serious design options, especially in sunny regions and for large AI campuses. Yet combining variable renewable generation with the strict availability requirements of a mission-critical facility is not simple. It requires careful engineering of capacity, energy balance, controls, protection and the interaction between renewable sources, batteries, generators and the grid.
This course provides a practical engineering framework for designing solar, BESS and hybrid power supply for data centers. Participants learn how to assess site resources and load profiles, size photovoltaic arrays and battery systems, and evaluate on-site, near-site and off-site supply options. The course covers inverter and power conversion design, medium voltage integration, microgrid controls, grid code requirements, protection, battery safety and fire codes, and the role of storage in peak shaving, backup and generator reduction. It also explains energy modeling, levelized cost analysis, power purchase agreements and the phased deployment of hybrid systems alongside growing IT loads.
Objectives
- Assess site solar resources and data center load profiles for hybrid supply design
- Size photovoltaic arrays and battery energy storage systems for defined objectives
- Compare on-site, near-site and off-site renewable supply options for data centers
- Design power conversion, medium voltage integration and microgrid control concepts
- Apply protection, grid code and battery fire safety requirements to hybrid systems
- Model energy balance, emissions and levelized cost for alternative configurations
- Develop a phased hybrid power concept that matches growing IT capacity
- Explain the commercial structures used to procure renewable power for data centers
Who should attend
Electrical and energy engineers, renewable project developers, data center designers and infrastructure planners.
Training methodology
The course combines engineering calculations with energy modeling exercises and project case studies. Participants analyze solar resource data and hourly data center load profiles, size PV and BESS for different objectives, and build a simple hourly energy balance in a spreadsheet. Single line diagrams of hybrid plants are reviewed to understand integration, protection and control. Battery safety requirements are examined through real incident reports. Teams develop and present a phased hybrid power concept for a data center campus. Each day ends with a design review and a short quiz.
Programme outline
Day1Energy Context and Load Profiles
- Why power availability has become the main constraint on new data center capacity
- Carbon targets, renewable commitments and their effect on data center power strategy
- Characteristics of data center load profiles, including AI training and inference patterns
- On-site, near-site and off-site renewable supply options and their practical limits
- Solar resource assessment using irradiance data, weather files and site constraints
- Land, roof and canopy area requirements compared with typical data center loads
- Exercise: matching an hourly data center load profile with a local solar profile
Day2Solar PV System Design
- Photovoltaic module, inverter and tracker technologies suitable for utility-scale plants
- Array sizing, DC to AC ratio and the effect of temperature and soiling losses
- String and central inverter architectures and their integration with medium voltage
- Energy yield estimation and performance ratio for hot and dusty locations
- Cable sizing, earthing and protection for large PV systems near critical facilities
- Operation and maintenance of solar plants, including cleaning and inspection programs
- Exercise: sizing a solar plant to supply a defined share of facility energy
Day3Battery Energy Storage Systems
- Lithium-ion chemistries, cycle life and degradation behavior in stationary storage
- Sizing BESS power and energy for peak shaving, firming and backup duties
- Power conversion systems, battery management systems and the design of battery containers
- Battery fire risks, thermal runaway and relevant fire codes and safety standards
- Spacing, ventilation, detection and suppression requirements for large battery installations near data halls
- Using storage to reduce diesel generator runtime and emissions at data centers
- Exercise: sizing a BESS for peak shaving and short-duration backup
Day4Hybrid Integration, Controls and Protection
- Hybrid plant architectures combining grid, solar, storage and standby generation
- Microgrid controllers, dispatch logic and priority rules for critical loads
- Grid code requirements, export limits and the interconnection studies required by utilities
- Protection challenges with inverter-based sources and low fault current contribution
- Islanding, black start and transition behavior of hybrid plants during grid disturbances
- Interaction between hybrid systems, UPS units and generator control systems
- Exercise: reviewing a hybrid single line diagram and its control philosophy
Day5Economics, Procurement and Phased Deployment
- Energy modeling over a full year and estimating renewable fraction and emissions
- Levelized cost of energy and total cost comparison of supply configurations
- Power purchase agreements, wheeling arrangements and renewable energy certificates explained for engineers
- Phased deployment of solar and storage alongside staged IT capacity growth
- Risk assessment for hybrid supply, including technology, regulatory and market risks
- Team project: presenting a hybrid power concept for a data center campus
- Final assessment and discussion of energy strategies in participants' projects
Dates and fees
Fees are in GBP. per delegate.
Certificate
Every delegate who attends the full programme receives a Harfard Technology certificate of completion stating the course title, duration, dates and venue.
Frequently asked questions
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