US operator Corscale Data Centers and investment firm Affinius Capital are set to deploy on-site natural gas generators at data center sites in the US.
The companies have signed a strategic partnership and supply exclusivity agreement with onsite generation firm e2Companies to integrate e2’s R3Di natural gas generator and energy storage system across their US hyperscale data center portfolio.
The agreement will run for an initial 24-month period, with more than 300MW of deployments targeted to meet the energy requirements of Corescale’s data center pipeline.
The R3Di system is a self-contained platform for on-site power generation, storage, and distribution that operates without the need for public utility upgrades or interconnection agreements. It comprises a prime-rated, rich-burn natural gas generator and an energy storage system that provides up to 1MW of power.
According to the company, it can deliver clean, conditioned power, and is designed to manage the load demands of AI hardware, including GPUs from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel. The system is also able to pair with existing on-site renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, and supports EV charging.
“This potential partnership would bring e2’s on-site power generation, energy storage, and grid optimization technology to our clients, fulfilling our commitment to deliver creative solutions to meet the expected quality, efficiency, and reliability to achieve their goals,” said Corscale CEO Robert Fields.
According to the partners, the collaboration aims to address several key challenges surrounding the growth of data centers. The biggest of which is the lengthy utility interconnection timelines, which can extend beyond five years.
Corscale CTO Nic Bustamante described the integration of R3Di as part of a broader strategy, stating: “Through this novel stack, we expect that we would be able to independently power our data centers, while supporting sophisticated AI GPU servers and racks across our platform with sustainable, future-proof infrastructure.”
The solution will work in conjunction with Grove365, which is an e2-developed centralized operations hub that delivers real-time monitoring, comprehensive data models, and predictive analysis for demand-side energy management.
The deployment is set to support Corscale’s $25 billion pipeline of hyperscale projects, as the firm expands its vertically integrated platform launched in 2021.
Corscale, an affiliate of Patrinely and Affinius Capital, operates a campus in Prince William County, Virginia. The company is currently planning a 140MW campus in Iver, UK, and has plans for a second Virginia site in Loudoun County. In February, it broke ground on a third 54MW building at its existing Gainesville Crossing Campus in Northern Virginia.
