EIA Launches Pilot Survey on Data Center Energy Use
One of the major concerns expressed by those opposed to data centers in Oklahoma has been the impact on consumer electric bills and the amount of power the projects will need.
Not only has it been the subject of legislation in the Oklahoma legislature, but now, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is beginning three voluntary pilot field studies to evaluate energy consumption in data centers. The study will be with web-based pilot surveys in Texas and Washington state as well as in-person interviews in Northern Virginia and Washington, DC.
Pilot Study Focus on Data Center Energy Consumption
The EIA identified 196 companies operating data centers across Texas, Washington state, and the Northern Virginia-DC region. Each company will be asked to report on the energy use of at least one data center in the targeted region.
The questionnaire will cover energy sources, electricity consumption, site characteristics, server metrics, and cooling systems.
“A tremendous amount of excellent work goes into our retrospective consumption surveys, but they were conceived decades ago. Going forward, that excellent work will be geared toward faster cycles and finer detail,” EIA Administrator Tristan Abbey said.
Background on Expanding Energy Data Collection
The EIA said Administrator Abbey is prioritizing data collection efforts in the agency’s rapidly evolving energy sector.
In February, EIA launched three voluntary pilot field studies to assess the feasibility of collecting data on graphite, vanadium, and zirconium, all of which are minerals critical to the energy sector. Graphite is used in batteries and advanced manufacturing; Vanadium is extracted in petroleum refining; and zirconium is used for nuclear fuel cladding.
EIA is also in early-stage planning for pilot field studies in other areas of the energy economy, including the nuclear sector.