Welcome to The Power Source- your go-to weekly newsletter that delivers the latest trends, news and updates in the world of #PowerSolutions. I hope you enjoy the brief and check back for more insights and news each week!
- Demand continues to strain the supply chain. Major electrical equipment- Generators, Transformers, Switchgear from large OEMs have lead times anywhere of 60 months or longer.
- AI users continue to lead the charge of demand for electrical gear, with no let up in sight.
- Mission critical infrastructure, large commercial users and users focused on electricfication continue to drive demand for resilency and redundancy in securing power, putting continued pressure on the industry.
- Innovative companies, like Laurkat Consulting, LLC , are helping companies to procure generators, transformers, switchgear and other like-kind electrical equipment QUICKLY. We're also purchasing obsolete gear.
NuScale Power, a leading provider of small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear technology, reported its fourth quarter and full year 2024 results.
- The company is in advanced discussions with major technology and industrial companies, utilities, and governments for potential SMR deals.
- NuScale is also progressing on its Romania power project and U.S. regulatory engagement for its modified reactor design.
- Despite significant revenue growth, NuScale has yet to finalize deals with U.S. data center operators or other industrial customers due to the complexity of these projects.
- The company highlighted its technology's potential to support multiple industries and grid use cases, including resiliency, microgrid support, and replacing baseload capacity lost due to coal-fired power plant retirements
The Trump administration's tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China could negatively impact U.S. utilities like FirstEnergy and American Electric Power (AEP).
- These tariffs may disrupt supply chains, delay infrastructure projects, and increase costs for materials and equipment needed to maintain and expand the grid.
- Utilities have warned that the tariffs could hurt their financial performance and lead to higher electricity prices for consumers
The rapid expansion of data-center facilities is pushing companies to seek new locations due to low vacancy rates in traditional markets. A report by Cushman & Wakefield found that as of the end of 2024, the vacancy rate for data-center facilities in the Americas was just 4.9%, with 83% of upcoming capacity already preleased. Popular markets like Northern Virginia continue to lead, but new and larger facilities are being built in less conventional areas.
- Capacity and Vacancy: North American data-center operational capacity reached 20 gigawatts in 2024, with significant growth in new facilities. Vacancy rates in primary markets hit a record low of 1.9%.
- Market Dynamics: Due to high demand, rents for data-center spaces have increased, and the AI boom is driving investments in less traditional markets such as Indianapolis, Kansas City, and Wisconsin.
- Power Sourcing: The ability to secure reliable power is now the most critical factor for location selection. Data-center operators are increasingly turning to places with abundant energy resources.
- Investment and Infrastructure: Some rural and former industrial areas are being repurposed for data centers due to existing infrastructure, while other areas face opposition and longer timelines for energy supply.
Data Scientist @ Consumers Energy | Machine Learning for Utilities Operations | MLOps
6 天前With all the AI-energy demand like with nuscale, Constellation energy doing potentially big things with nuclear. Three mile island deal with Microsoft who’s the leader in large enterprise AI, among some other constellation nuke plants. Constellation’s stock has already shot up—could skyrocket if they become the leader in US nuke power for AI/data centers
Well done Kathryn. Keep up the good work!