Few companies can claim more than a quarter-century of experience focused entirely on mission-critical power. For PowerSecure, it’s at the very core of the business. In 2000, Mark Martyak, now executive vice president, brought his deep expertise in mission-critical systems to PowerSecure from a consulting engineering firm that specialized in precisely that.

“We were doing microgrids before anybody really knew what a microgrid was, and that’s put us in a great position for where we are today,” Martyak recalls.

A foundational principle of PowerSecure’s approach is its “under one roof” service model. From project development and engineering to manufacturing and construction, everything is managed in-house – a model designed for efficiency, quality control, and responsiveness.

The key to their longevity? Relentless monitoring and performance analysis. PowerSecure’s microgrids are monitored 24/7, a practice Martyak says is critical to the company’s industry-leading reliability.

Bring your own power and share the load

With utilities struggling to keep up with the energy demand of data centers, facilities are being urged to invest in their own power sources. This approach helps ease pressure on the grid and supports a more sustainable, distributed energy model.

Martyak highlights the scale of the challenge by pointing to one of PowerSecure’s utility partners. It took them decades to reach 7.3 gigawatts (GW) of peak load capacity – yet today, they face over 14GW in active data center energy applications, a figure that could potentially triple within five years. This kind of exponential demand growth is stretching utility capabilities to their limits.

“The other trick here is that, in that particular example, the 14GW of energy may not all be real or immediate,” Martyak explains, adding:

“Data center developers are competing for the same potential new load, especially related to hyperscale cloud computing. All entities involved need to be transparent about their actual energy needs, so utilities can better manage their resources and plan for future growth.”

He also emphasizes the difficult balancing act utilities face in meeting the needs of their core customers (their ratepayers) while also supporting the loads required by data centers that power the digital economy. It’s a necessary investment, but one that comes with significant financial and planning burdens.

Adding to the complexity is the long lead time required to secure utility-provided capacity:

“Now we're seeing time frames more in the five to eight, even 10-year range. So if you want to have a data center behind that utility, now you have to bring in your own capacity.”

Bridge power and beyond

To manage both the short- and long-term energy needs of data centers, particularly when utility power isn't immediately available, Martyak outlines PowerSecure’s approach. They deploy “bridge power” to temporarily or transitionally supply energy until the utility can provide permanent service.

“We've coined the phrase ‘bridge power and beyond,’ as we’re taking a much longer life cycle approach to the data centers,” Martyak explains.

In this way, ‘bridge power’ addresses the immediate energy needs of data centers, while ‘beyond’ reflects long-term planning, where the utility eventually provides permanent, reliable energy for these high-demand customers.

The microgrids PowerSecure provides are low-emission and are designed with future utility integration in mind. Once their temporary role is complete, these clean on-site energy resources can later be enrolled in utility programs, becoming a permanent part of the broader energy grid.

Longstanding collaboration with utilities

One of the key advantages of dedicating a career to a single area of expertise is the ability to build authentic, long-term relationships with key stakeholders. For Martyak, almost five decades of experience in mission-critical power have led to deep, trust-based connections with utility providers – along with a strong understanding of their drivers, priorities, and evolving demand curves.

“We are part of a major, very innovative utility to begin with, and over the past 25 years, PowerSecure has built partnerships across the country with investor-owned utilities, public power cooperatives, and municipal providers,” Martyak says.

What strengthens these longstanding ties is PowerSecure’s established values in the data center space, centered on the 3Rs: resiliency, reduced emissions, and rate of return.

“When you combine that approach with our close collaboration with utility partners, that's when you can deliver real, extraordinary value – not just to the data center companies, but to the utilities as well.”

Leaders in sustainability

PowerSecure’s commitment to environmental responsibility is reflected in its 3Rs initiative, and is especially evident in the microgrids it installs onsite. These systems are engineered for efficiency and sustainability, leveraging proprietary technology developed in partnership with Volvo.

“Our PowerBlocks are the only US-patented engine generation systems in the country. They go beyond EPA Tier IV Final – we have now obtained European Stage V emissions levels, which are even cleaner,” notes Martyak.

In combination with a fully renewable-ready system powered by hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), PowerSecure positions itself as a vital partner for data center operators seeking to reduce emissions and achieve meaningful progress toward carbon reduction goals.

To watch the full DCD>Talks episode with Mark Martyak, click here.