Israel Electric Corporation Faces Surge in Demand for Server Farms
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
The Israel Electric Corporation is facing a surge in demand for electricity from data center developers, with requests for 27 GW compared to the current 17 GW supply. Dr. Noam Shariki stated that while developers expect connections in two years, the IEC can deliver in five to six years. The IEC is proactively planning and collaborating to ensure it can meet this demand and will not be a bottleneck for data center integration in Israel.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel Electric Corporation faces demand for 27 GW from server farms, exceeding current 17 GW supply.
- Dr. Noam Shariki highlighted the global race to connect server farms to electricity.
- Data center developers expect connections in two years; IEC estimates five to six years.
- A regulatory change allows higher power supply without high-voltage connections.
- IEC is proactively planning to ensure grid connections meet data center needs.
- The IEC expects to meet future demand and support data center integration.
The Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) is currently processing requests for 27 gigawatts (GW) of power, a significant increase from the 17 GW the grid can currently supply. Dr. Noam Shariki, Director of Smart Grid Technologies at IEC, revealed this at the Globes Kibbutz Growth Conference. He explained that the surge in demand, particularly from data center developers, has outpaced the gradual growth predicted by the IEC's previous infrastructure models.
Shariki described the global race to connect server farms to electricity as a major challenge, emphasizing that energy supply, not just computing power, is critical for establishing these facilities. He noted that this demand is occurring alongside the integration of renewable energy, energy storage, and the rise of electric transportation, which also adds to the grid's load.
While data center developers expect grid connections within two years, Shariki stated that the IEC can provide this within five to six years. However, a recent regulatory adjustment allowing higher power supply without high-voltage connections, through multiple high-voltage connections, positions the IEC as a dominant player. The IEC is also working to mitigate uncertainty regarding project viability, as multiple orders are often placed for the same potential farm, and they need to ensure connections are only made for realized projects.
To address the sensitivity of data centers to power outages, the IEC is allocating more infrastructure than usual. Shariki assured that the IEC is proactively planning early in the ordering process to ensure the connection awaits the data center, not the other way around. They are collaborating with developers and stakeholders, offering informal consulting services, and working with Noga, the electricity system management company, to facilitate connections when infrastructure is insufficient. The IEC is also deploying bridging solutions with rapidly deployable substations and an advanced management system for optimal resource allocation.
Shariki concluded that the IEC anticipates being able to meet future demand and will not be a bottleneck for integrating server farms into Israel's electricity grid.
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