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Tennessee Data Center Intel
Latest data center news, projects, power and policy across Tennessee — updated daily.
Recent Tennessee data center news
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Meta, Silicon Ranch partner on solar farm for South Carolina data center
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Our first advanced nuclear reactor project with Kairos Power and Tennessee Valley Authority
The Google blog post announces a three-party power purchase agreement (PPA) enabling the first U.S. utility purchase of electricity from an advanced GEN IV reactor: Kairos Power’s Hermes 2 Plant in Oak Ridge.
- Agreement specifics:Google will procure clean energy attributes via Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) from Kairos Power’s Hermes 2 Plant, enabling 50 megawatts (MW) of nuclear energy on TVA’s grid to help power Google data centers in Montgomery County, Tennessee and Jackson County, Alabama; the Hermes 2 plant is scheduled to begin operations in 2030.
- Program context and scale-up: Google previously agreed with Kairos Power to unlock up to 500 MW through multiple small modular reactor deployments; the project includes workforce programs with the University of Tennessee and other local universities to grow local talent for plant operators and engineers.
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Medium-voltage circuit breaker unlocks electricity abundance, savings
Oak Ridge National Laboratory has developed and tested thyristor-based medium-voltage semiconductor circuit breakers that interrupt DC faults faster and at higher voltages than prior commercial options.
- Confirmed actions: ORNL researchers at the GRID-C built and tested a prototype that can interrupt a current at 1,400 volts in less than 50 microseconds (reported as 4–6× faster than previous thyristor demonstrations) and tested series-connected breakers up to an 1,800-volt testing capacity; the work is published in the 2024 IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE) (DOI: 10.1109/ECCE55643.2024.10860928).
- Planned initiatives / deployment goals: The team plans to scale the series arrangement toward 10,000 volts to meet larger DC grid demands; the technical approach uses thyristors (chosen for being robust, efficient and inexpensive) and addresses voltage sharing and reaction-time challenges for series-connected breakers.
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How we’re making data centers more flexible to benefit power grids
Google has announced progress in implementing demand response capabilities in its data centers, including new agreements with Indiana Michigan Power and Tennessee Valley Authority to target machine learning workloads for energy demand flexibility.
- Demand response agreements with I&M and TVA mark the first use of ML workload targeting to reduce power demand during grid events, building on prior success with Omaha Public Power District.
- Flexible demand solutions are deployed in multiple regions (US, Belgium, Taiwan) to support grid reliability, reduce need for new infrastructure, and integrate with Google’s 24/7 carbon-free energy goals, with ongoing collaboration planned with utilities and industry partners.
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Medium-voltage circuit breaker unlocks electricity abundance, savings
The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory announced the development of medium-voltage semiconductor-based circuit breakers for direct current grids.
- Developed circuit breakers interrupt current at 1,400 volts in less than 50 microseconds, four to six times faster than previous thyristor-based devices, with testing up to 1,800 volts and plans to scale to 10,000 volts.
- The technology uses affordable thyristors and external circuits to enable fast, safe interruption of DC faults, supporting expanded use of DC grids for efficient, flexible power delivery in transportation, manufacturing, and data centers.
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Gas Buildout Continues Across Southeast
The article reports on ongoing and planned expansions of methane gas infrastructure across Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
- Duke Energy plans 9 gigawatts of new methane gas generation by 2035, delaying interim carbon reduction goals; Williams Companies and Mountain Valley Pipeline are advancing pipeline expansions crossing state borders.
- Dominion Energy received state permission to increase fossil fuel use despite clean energy mandates, facing community opposition and expert testimony suggesting alternatives like battery storage could meet demand; Tennessee Valley Authority board changes have stalled its long-term energy planning while it proposes aggressive methane gas generation expansion.
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Data centers seek flexible power solutions for resilience, sustainability
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Innovation Crossroads welcomes six entrepreneurs for Cohort 2025
The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) announced the 2025 Innovation Crossroads cohort, comprising six entrepreneurs focused on energy and emerging technologies.
- The two-year fellowship program provides startup founders with access to ORNL’s scientific resources, mentorship, and a substantial grant, supported by DOE offices and the Tennessee Valley Authority. The 2025 cohort includes ventures addressing wildfire prevention, advanced materials coatings, scalable carbon fiber production, aluminum-air battery technology, algae-based biocomposites, and efficient data center cooling.
- Cohort members will also complete the Spark Cleantech Accelerator at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The program aims to accelerate commercialization of innovative energy technologies and strengthen U.S. competitiveness.
This initiative advances energy innovation by integrating national lab resources with entrepreneurial expertise to foster sustainable technology development and regional economic growth.
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LG Energy Solutions opens LFP battery cell manufacturing plant in Michigan
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Novel data streaming software chases light speed from accelerator to supercomputer