AI is forcing data center operators to rethink long-held assumptions about power availability. As campuses grow to gigawatt scale and workloads become more dynamic, many projects can no longer rely on traditional utility connection timelines. Instead, operators are developing new approaches that allow facilities to begin operating before grid power becomes available.

In this DCD>Talks episode, Adam Kabulski, chief growth officer at EPC Power, explains how AI is reshaping power infrastructure and why technologies such as microgrids, grid-forming inverters and higher-voltage architectures are becoming essential.

Decoupling operations from utility power

For decades, data center development followed a familiar pattern. Operators secured a utility connection, aligned construction schedules with power availability and brought facilities online once the required capacity was in place.

According to Kabulski, AI is changing that relationship.

“When have we ever seen gigawatt-scale campuses being built?” he says. “Loads like that, the grid's never seen before.”

The scale of modern AI infrastructure means utility power is no longer always available on the timelines operators require. Rather than delaying projects, many are developing sophisticated on-site power systems capable of supporting operations independently.

“Now we're completely decoupling operation of a data center from availability of utility power,” says Kabulski.

These systems combine technologies including gas generation, batteries, renewables and fuel cells to create what Kabulski describes as "the biggest microgrids ever dreamed of". In some cases, the utility connection becomes a future addition rather than a prerequisite for operation.

“There's a mix of renewables, gas, fuel cells, batteries, and now you have the utility connection as a future add, or sometimes even an option, not a necessity,” he says.

For Kabulski, this represents one of the most significant shifts the power industry has experienced in decades.

Grid forming becomes fundamental

Operating at gigawatt scale requires more than generation capacity. It also requires a way to coordinate diverse energy sources while maintaining stability and reliability.

This is where grid-forming technology plays a central role.

For years, grid forming was often viewed as an advanced capability that could improve performance in specific situations. Today, Kabulski argues that it is becoming a fundamental requirement.

“This isn't a nice to have,” he says. “This is fundamental to the design of a data center.”

Grid-forming technology helps batteries, generators and renewable energy sources operate together as a coordinated system. As data centers come to resemble large-scale power islands, these capabilities become essential to maintaining stable operation.

Kabulski believes the wider industry is now recognizing the importance of technologies that power specialists have discussed for years.

“Everyone's catching up on grid forming,” he says.

As operators build larger microgrids and more independent power systems, the ability to coordinate multiple energy sources is becoming a core design requirement rather than a future consideration.

Preparing for the next power architecture

Alongside changes in generation and grid interaction, operators are also evaluating new approaches to power distribution.

Kabulski argues that many of the technologies attracting attention today are already available. The challenge is determining when and how they should be deployed.

“It's all about timing,” he says.

Technologies such as solid-state transformers, higher-voltage rectifiers and DC-to-DC converters have existed for years. What has changed is the scale of demand and the industry's willingness to adopt new architectures.

The growth of AI infrastructure is driving interest in 800V distribution, while future architectures may extend to 1000V and 1500V systems. Direct current distribution is also attracting renewed attention as operators seek greater efficiency from power-hungry facilities.

For Kabulski, the challenge is not simply selecting the right technology. Operators must ensure new architectures can be deployed safely, efficiently and at scale while remaining flexible enough to support future developments.

Planning for decades, not years

Despite the pace of technological change, Kabulski argues that successful power strategies still depend on long-term thinking.

Historically, EPC Power focused on supporting power plant owners and operators making decisions that would affect facilities for decades. The company is applying a similar philosophy to data centers, where infrastructure investments must balance immediate requirements against future needs.

“We've always focused on bringing solutions to those with the longest-term vested interest,” he explains. “People who are making decisions not just for today, but for 20, 25 years from now.”

This long-term perspective is becoming more important as operators invest in infrastructure that must support multiple generations of technology. Power architectures, microgrids and control systems must all be capable of adapting as requirements continue to evolve.

The need for experienced partners

The pace of change in data center power infrastructure shows little sign of slowing. Gigawatt-scale campuses, greater operational independence and evolving power architectures are creating challenges that few organizations have encountered before.

“The need for power is real,” says Kabulski. “The challenges are bigger than ever.”

According to Kabulski, addressing those challenges requires more than technology alone. It depends on bringing together the expertise, operational experience and long-term perspective needed to navigate a power landscape growing in complexity.

EPC Power has responded by building a dedicated team focused on data center power challenges, working directly with hyperscalers, operators and other stakeholders across the value chain.

“We need a dedicated group of people at EPC Power that wake up every single day and think about data center-specific power challenges,” he says.

As AI continues to reshape the industry, Kabulski believes success will depend on close collaboration between operators, technology providers and power specialists. The challenge is not simply deploying new infrastructure but building systems capable of supporting the next several decades of data center growth.

Watch the full DCD>Talks episode with EPC Power’s Adam Kabulski here.