The folks responsible for siting and constructing data centers are on a perpetual hunt for firm, reliable power- a resource that is becoming increasingly scarce as grid operators from coast to coast grapple with the ramifications of unprecedented load growth.
A brand new offering from grid-scale storage developer Energy Vault promises ultra-high energy density and 10+ hours of power, and it has already caught the attention of an emerging data center developer.
Today Energy Vault announced a strategic partnership with RackScale Data Centers (RSDC) that intends to accelerate the delivery of 2 GW of power to data center sites developed by RSDC via the deployment of Energy Vault’s proprietary B-Nest hyperscale battery energy storage system, targeting construction in 2026.
What is the B-Nest?
The B-Nest is a proprietary, fixed-frame, multi-story structure designed to house batteries for onsite energy storage, a boon for space-constrained project sites with a large interconnect capacity. Capable of storing up to 1.6 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy per acre, Energy Vault contends its B-Nest represents a more than 8X increase in installed site energy density over traditional ground-mounted Battery Energy Storage system (BESS) installations. The ultra-high energy density of the B-Nest will provide each data center with full primary power for 10+ hours. When paired with an interruptible utility power contract, the system can ensure full power deliverability to each data center during demand response events.
The proprietary technology behind B-Nest stems from the IP developed for Energy Vault’s gravity-based energy storage systems and will incorporate structures similar to those used in G-VAULT designs. B-Nest solutions will be operated by Energy Vault’s proprietary VaultOS Energy Management System (EMS) to control, manage, and optimize the BESS operations.
“The B-Nest will be a major leap forward for the data center sector, and we are incredibly excited to bring it to market in partnership with RSDC,” said Marco Terruzzin, chief product officer at Energy Vault. “By incorporating the multi-story fixed frame structure concept inherent in our G-VAULT technology, we are delivering safe, cost-effective, insurable, and rapidly deployable solutions for the data center industry. With the B-Nest we look forward to providing data center developers the power they so urgently need.”
The partnership between Energy Vault and RSDC includes the planned deployment of 2GW/20GWh of B-Nest infrastructure that the companies say will drive a rapid portfolio build-out, taking advantage of the ability to capture supplementary revenue through participation in demand response programs with local utilities, in turn stabilizing the grid.
As utilities work to expand their generation fleets to meet surging power demand, estimated in a recent report to be approaching 6% growth over the next five years, data center interconnection wait times can now stretch up to five years or more. Goldman Sachs Research estimates that data center power demand will grow a staggering 160% by 2030, driven in large part by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“It is absolutely essential that renewable energy generation and storage become key points of focus to power the AI data center boom,” surveys Marco Terruzzin, chief commercial and product officer at Energy Vault, who seeks to establish a model for the industry via its partnership with RSDC. “The safety characteristics, energy density, and economics of the B-Nest solution are ideally suited to meet the needs of the data center market, and we look forward to working with RSDC on the deployment of critical power infrastructure to support their ambitious growth plans.”
Last month, Energy Vault announced plans to deploy a 57 MW/114 MWh BESS in Scurry County, Texas, signing a 10-year offtake agreement with Gridmatic, an AI-enabled power marketer. Construction of the Cross Trails BESS is expected to start in the first quarter of next year, with commercial operation expected by summer 2025. The BESS will be built with Energy Vault’s proprietary X-Vault integration platform using the company’s UL9540 certified B-VAULT product, and VaultOS Energy Management System to control, manage, and optimize operations.
Earlier this year, Energy Vault celebrated the successful testing and commissioning of its Rudong EVx gravity energy storage system in China. In January, the Rudong EVx was selected as part of a list of projects with the classification of “new energy storage pilot demonstration projects” by China’s National Energy Administration. Projects selected receive increased management oversight by provincial-level energy authorities, allowing coordination for construction, data reporting, compliance, and safety measures, among other areas.
Originally published in Renewable Energy World.
