Connect | London // Panel: Off-grid or in control? How onsite power is reshaping data center strategy

As AI-driven demand accelerates, access to power - not compute - is emerging as the primary constraint on data center growth. Lengthy grid interconnection timelines, capacity shortages, and permitting delays are forcing developers to rethink traditional energy models, with “time to power” now a key factor in site selection and project viability. In response, operators are increasingly turning to onsite power generation - ranging from gas-fired systems to fuel cells and hybrid microgrids to secure faster, more reliable energy supply. With the industry forecasting that by 2030, a significant share of data centers could operate partially or entirely off-grid, marking a fundamental shift from reliance on centralized utilities to self-supplied energy ecosystems.

This session will examine:

• The benefits of onsite generation including greater control over costs, scalability, and uptime, while also supporting integration with renewables, storage, and flexible load management
• Questions around system efficiency, emissions, and the future role of utilities as large energy users become increasingly autonomous
• As new geographies emerge and energy strategies diversify, does onsite generation represent a temporary workaround to grid constraints or a permanent reconfiguration of digital infrastructure?