Digital Realty Trust: Digital Realty to partner with Enel X for grid balancing UPS systems

Digital Realty has revealed that it will be partnering with energy firm Enel X to roll out grid-balancing UPS systems in Ireland. The integrated battery banks, housed within Digital Realty’s Irish data centers, will relieve grid dependence on fossil fuel power plants during periods of frequency deviation by redirecting loads from the grid to batteries.

"With this partnership, Digital Realty is using its data center assets in an innovative way to support more renewables on the grid and reduce carbon emissions,” said Séamus Dunne, managing director at Digital Realty in the UK and Ireland.

John Byrne, head of operations for the UK and Ireland at Enel X, said: “Electricity grids of the future will become increasingly reliant on the formation of mutually beneficial relationships between user, technology, and local regulations.

“By adopting this mindset, the infrastructure network that data center owners create to support their own operations could also provide valuable resilience to the grid operator that enables it to fulfill the green energy needs of a growing population and economy.”