PPC Group announced its active participation in the Data Center Flexibility and Grid Reliability (DCFlex) initiative, led by the independent, non-profit Energy Research and Development Institute (EPRI). This initiative brings together energy providers, digital services companies and leaders in artificial intelligence to explore innovative solutions that improve the synergy between energy-intensive data centers and the electrical grid.
Rapid advances in artificial intelligence and the exponential growth of data demand have led to an increase in the energy consumption to power modern data centers around the world. The DCFlex project aims to leverage the latest grid flexibility practices to maximize the synergies between energy-intensive data centers and electrical generation and distribution systems. These practices offer multiple benefits, including optimized energy efficiency in data centers, improved network stability – especially during peak periods – and increased use of renewable energy sources alongside energy storage technologies. The project aims to address future technical challenges in a way that ensures an optimal environmental footprint for modern data centers.
PPC Group’s participation in DCFlex is to bridge the gap between consistent regional renewable energy and data center operations, as PPC already invests in both. PPC Group is investing heavily in renewable energy generation and storage. At the same time, as the leading clean energy provider in Southeastern Europe, PPC Group is expanding its technology footprint, creating a nationwide FTTH network in Greece, participating in international submarine data cable projects, and developing data centers and software solutions based on artificial intelligence. Through DCFlex, PPC Group is driving the accelerated adoption of modern grid flexibility techniques, with a focus on the contribution of renewable energy to data center operations, enabling a more efficient and sustainable energy ecosystem.
Founded in 1972, EPRI is the world’s leading independent, not-for-profit energy research and development organization, with offices worldwide. EPRI’s trusted experts collaborate with more than 450 companies in 45 countries, driving innovation to ensure that the public has safe, reliable, affordable, and equitable access to electricity worldwide.
“The convergence of energy and technology is accelerating in this new era of decentralized and flexible power generation, exponential data growth and artificial intelligence. At PPC Group, we recognize the need for sustainable energy solutions that can support the digital future. As the leading clean energy provider in South-Eastern Europe, we are actively investing in renewable energy, energy storage, fiber optic infrastructure, data centers and AI. Our participation in the DCFlex initiative reflects our commitment to promoting innovation and integrating energy and digital technologies to create a more resilient, efficient and sustainable energy ecosystem. We look forward to collaborating with like-minded organizations to develop solutions that will power the future,” said PPC Group CEO, Georgios Stassis.