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Case Study 2 — Data Centres

Powering the AI Revolution Without Overloading the Grid

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The Challenge

Artificial intelligence is driving unprecedented electricity demand, and data centre growth is increasingly gated by grid capacity rather than compute. Many operators now face years of delay waiting for a grid connection.

The Numbers

  • Global data centre electricity demand grew 17% in 2025; AI focused facilities grew 50% (IEA, Electricity 2026).

  • Data centre electricity consumption is set to double by 2030, with AI-focused demand set to triple (IEA).

  • Around 20% of planned data centre projects are at risk of delay due to grid strain; nearly half of 2026 completions face power related delays (IEA).

  • New transmission connections can take four to eight years to build in advanced economies.

Why Existing Solutions Fall Short

Grid connection queues now run years long in many markets.

 

On-site gas generation adds emissions and permitting complexity.

 

Batteries address short-duration flexibility but not the sustained thermal loads or extended power gaps data centres face.

iQ-LOOP's Solution

iQ-LOOP stores renewable electricity as aluminium energy inventory that can be delivered on site as heat, cooling or power exactly when needed — reducing a facility's dependence on constrained grid connections.

Example Reference Project

On-site LOOP installation providing supplemental thermal cooling and dispatchable backup power for a midscale data centre.

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Blog post: What If Electricity Isn't the Thing We Should Be Moving?

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Blog post: The AI Boom's Hidden Bottleneck Isn't Only Power. It's Water.

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Modelled Impact

  • Reduced grid connection requirement

  • Lower peak demand

  • Thermal cooling supplied on site

  • Local dispatchable power

  • Fixed long-term energy pricing

  • Greater resilience against grid delays and outages

Why Now?

Grid capacity, not compute, is now the binding constraint on data centre growth — operators need power solutions that don't wait years for a connection.

Vision for the Future

Power for AI.

Cooling Without Grid Expansion.

Resilient Energy for the Digital Economy.

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