The case for colocating data centers and generation

This Catalyst podcast episode interviews Sheldon Kimber, CEO of Intersect Power, about the burgeoning market for co-locating renewable energy generation (solar, wind, storage, and some gas) with data centers. The discussion covers the current state of the US solar and storage markets, challenges like tariffs and PPA pricing, and the reasons behind the growing trend of co-location—primarily addressing grid limitations and the need for faster project deployment. Kimber highlights Intersect Power's projects, emphasizing their ability to provide large-scale, rapidly deployable renewable energy solutions, often enabling data center projects that would be otherwise impossible due to grid constraints. A key takeaway is that co-located renewable energy can create a more sustainable and potentially cost-competitive power solution for data centers compared to traditional methods.