An off-grid data center is a facility that produces all its own power and is not connected to any external source, such as the electrical power grid.

In 2012, a coalition including New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Clarkson University, AMD and Hewlett-Packard began work toward a pair of data centers that will generate 100% of their own power via solar panels and wind turbines, without connecting into the utility grid. To hedge against intermittent power problems, they’ll shift compute loads between the two facilities.

A Microsoft project, Data Plant, is an off-grid data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming that runs on biogas created at a local wastewater treatment facility. 

03 Apr 2013