Forerunner: Powering the Edge

In this episode of Forerunner: Powering the Edge, the host discusses a transformative trend in the data center industry — the shift towards going off-grid. The move aims to increase control over power supply, reliability, and operational costs. To achieve this, data centers are harnessing alternative energy sources like solar and wind and implementing on-site generation techniques. This move is no...

In the latest episode of Forerunner: Powering the Edge, key discussions center around the importance of high-resolution outage and flood modeling in identifying the weaknesses in our utility infrastructure before they develop into critical issues. The podcast also highlights the fragility of our current energy infrastructure, plagued by aging systems and based on assumptions that may no longer hol...

In this episode of Forerunner: Powering the Edge, we explore the limitations and risks associated with the traditional reliance on diesel generators for backup power. We discuss how dependence on diesel leaves systems vulnerable to fuel supply chain disruptions, requires extensive maintenance, and struggles with delayed response times during critical power failures. We also highlight the potential...

In the latest episode of the podcast 'Forerunner: Powering the Edge', the host explored various topics related to energy technology and infrastructure. The episode started by discussing the booming battery technology, highlighting lithium-ion and imminent solid-state batteries, and their critical role in efficient energy storage aligned with the global push for clean, renewable energy. The podcast...

The podcast episode of Forerunner: Powering the Edge hosted by Michael Pierce delves into the underexplored concept of surplus energy, shedding light on why this resource has remained largely invisible economically. The episode discusses why energy production isn't the issue, but rather, the inefficiencies lie in handling overproduction, curtailment, and misalignment. It delves deeper into the pro...

The script for the podcast episode of Forerunner: Powering the Edge focuses on the role of diesel generators in backup power and the emerging alternatives. The episode draws attention to the challenges of relying solely on diesel generators, such as fuel risk, maintenance, delayed response times and increasingly strict regulation. Instead of diesel, modern facilities are starting to embrace a comb...

In this episode of Forerunner: Powering the Edge, the host explores well-hidden yet operationally critical issues often overlooked in facility operation: voltage dips, frequency instability, transfer delays, and power quality problems. These seemingly minor disruptions can lead to significant operational disruptions, increased energy consumption, equipment malfunction, compliance exposure, and man...

The podcast episode of "Forerunner: Powering the Edge" delves into the crucial aspect of power reliability in edge data centers. It covers the concept of uptime, its importance, common power challenges these centers face, and the risks associated with traditional grid-first designs such as grid outages and voltage instability. The conversation moves onto analyzing various innovative operational st...

The podcast episode focuses on achieving a balance between reducing power costs and maintaining reliability in data centers. It highlights the challenges associated with minimizing energy costs, such as potential downtime and reliability compromises, especially in edge data centers with tighter budgets. The episode also discusses variables like peak demand charges and grid pricing volatility that...