Large-Scale Data Centers in High-Renewable-Penetration Power Systems: A Review of Flexible Resources, Grid Interactions, and Operational Impacts
Maosen Chen, Wenzhen Li, Shuai Mao, Hui Ma · Energies · 2026
This paper reviews large-scale data centers in high-renewable-penetration power systems from the perspectives of flexible resources, grid interactions, and operational impacts. First, this paper summarizes the electrical and operational characteristics of large-scale data centers and renewable-rich power systems, and identifies the main coupling challenges between them. Second, this paper reviews the major flexible resources available in data centers, including workload flexibility, cooling and thermal flexibility, uninterruptible power supply systems, battery energy storage systems, and backup power resources. Third, this paper examines the main interaction pathways between data centers and power systems, with emphasis on demand response, ancillary services, and multi-timescale coordination. Finally, this paper discusses the operational impacts of these interactions on grid operation, reliability, service quality, economic performance, and low-carbon operation. The review could provide a structured understanding of how large-scale data centers can evolve from passive loads into flexible and grid-supportive resources under renewable-rich grid conditions.