Behind-the-Meter Power for Data Centers

Behind-the-meter power means the generation sits on the customer's side of the utility meter. For a data center, that can be a full on-site plant that runs the campus in island mode, a plant that shares the load with a grid connection, or bridge power that carries the site until the utility line is energized. The appeal is speed: a project that would wait years in an interconnection queue can sometimes start up on its own generation much sooner. The cost is responsibility. The owner now has to deliver the reliability a utility used to provide, which means spare units, fast response to load steps, and protection and controls that keep frequency and voltage steady.