Executive Summary
A global technology company is developing a hyperscale data center campus designed to support compute‑intensive, always‑on digital workloads. The facility requires a grid‑independent power architecture capable of managing extremely large and rapidly fluctuating loads while maintaining continuous availability.
To meet these requirements, the project team selected the Ovation™ Microgrid Control System, built on the Ovation™ Automation Platform, to deliver coordinated control, system visibility, and cybersecurity across a large‑scale on‑site power ecosystem. The solution provides a unified control foundation spanning generation, energy storage, balance‑of‑plant systems, and electrical infrastructure while supporting reliable microgrid operation throughout phased deployment and long‑term growth.
Project Background
The data center campus is being developed as a multi‑phase, self‑powered facility designed to operate independently of the public utility grid. At full buildout, the site will support city‑scale peak power demand, driven by highly dynamic digital workloads.
Key architectural characteristics include:
- A dedicated on‑site microgrid integrating dispatchable generation, large‑scale energy storage, and supporting balance‑of‑plant systems
- The ability to accommodate instantaneous, high‑magnitude load swings driven by compute demand
- Redundant microgrid configurations to support continuous operation during maintenance, expansion, or fault conditions
Given the scale and complexity of the power island, the project requires industrial‑grade automation and control capable of coordinating all assets as a single, reliable system.
Customer Challenge
The project team faced a set of challenges common to next‑generation hyperscale facilities, amplified by the size and criticality of the deployment:
- Extreme load variability: Compute‑driven demand introduces rapid and significant power fluctuations that must be managed in real time.
- Phased commissioning and growth: Dozens of power assets must be commissioned incrementally across multiple milestones while maintaining overall system stability.
- Accelerated delivery schedules: Compressed timelines require early operational readiness without compromising reliability, safety, or cybersecurity.
- System integration complexity: Generation assets, battery energy storage, electrical infrastructure, and balance‑of‑plant equipment must operate in tight coordination under a unified control strategy.
To address these challenges, the customer required a controls supplier with proven experience in large‑scale, mission‑critical power systems.
Solution: Unified Control on the Ovation Automation Platform
The Ovation Automation Platform was selected to provide a centralized automation and control environment for the entire microgrid and supporting infrastructure.
The solution includes:
- The Ovation Microgrid Control System for coordinated, real‑time control of generation, energy storage, and electrical assets
- Integrated SCADA and Electrical Control and Monitoring System (ECMS) capabilities for comprehensive operational visibility
- A Power and Water Cybersecurity Suite designed to protect mission‑critical infrastructure
- A digital twin to support system validation, commissioning, and ongoing operational assurance
The architecture supports full redundancy across independent microgrid segments, enabling secure operation during normal conditions, maintenance activities, and contingency events.
Results and Operational Readiness
The Ovation‑based solution establishes a scalable control foundation capable of supporting the campus from initial commissioning through full buildout.
Key outcomes include:
- Coordinated control across a large, asset‑dense power island
- Stable microgrid operation under rapid and variable load conditions
- Enhanced operator visibility and situational awareness across power and utility systems
- A secure and extensible automation platform designed to accommodate future expansion
Together, these capabilities enable the data center operator to maintain continuous digital operations while relying on an industrial‑grade control system to manage power system complexity.
Why It Matters
As hyperscale data centers evolve into highly integrated, self‑powered energy systems, unified control architectures become essential. This project demonstrates how coordinated microgrid control, delivered through an industrial automation platform, can provide the reliability, scalability, and operational discipline required to support next‑generation digital infrastructure.
Learn More About Emerson Solutions for Data Centers
Emerson delivers a portfolio of automation and digital technologies engineered to help data center operators strengthen reliability, streamline integration, and scale confidently - while using digital twin capabilities to optimize performance across the asset lifecycle.
- Data Center Energy Management for Microgrid & Power Islands
Provides intelligent orchestration across microgrids, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and other renewable or traditional assets for continuous uptime and energy optimization. - Microgrid Control Systems
Delivers high‑speed local logic processing and secure I/O management, enabling precise coordination between plant assets and rapidly changing data center demand. - Digital Twin
Provides integrated system validation, commissioning, and ongoing operational assurance across the facility. - Ovation AI-Enabled Applications
Applies intelligent decision support to improve grid stability, forecast loading patterns, and identify anomalies for better reliability and efficiency. - Power and Water Cybersecurity Suite
Strengthens cyber resilience across OT environments with continuous monitoring, threat detection, and role‑based access controls designed to protect mission‑critical power infrastructure.
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