Battery-Assisted Operation of Hyperscale AI Data Centers under Connect-and-Manage Interconnection Practices

TL;DR

This paper introduces a battery-assisted framework for hyperscale AI data centers to manage real-time power limits and workload continuity, enhancing operational robustness and flexibility.

Contribution

It develops a joint energy-computation model and a two-stage decision framework integrating BESS to improve data center operation under connect-and-manage practices.

Findings

BESS increases credible day-ahead workload commitments.

BESS improves real-time delivery robustness under congestion.

BESS role shifts from feasibility support to flexibility provision.

Abstract

Emerging connect-and-manage practices allow new transmission-connected mega-loads to connect while enforcing time-varying admissible power exchange limits at the point of common coupling (PCC) in real time. Hyperscale artificial intelligence data centers (AIDCs), whose demand can reach hundreds of megawatts and whose internal computing-cooling dynamics evolve rapidly, can therefore face frequent conflicts between workload continuity requirements and externally imposed PCC envelopes. This paper proposes a battery-assisted operational framework in which on-site battery energy storage (BESS) serves as a physical buffering interface to reconcile fast internal dynamics with time-varying interconnection limits. A continuity-aware energy-computation model is developed to jointly capture checkpoint-constrained AI training workloads, information technology (IT) computing power-throughput characteristics, and IT-cooling thermal dynamics. A two-stage decision framework is then formulated, consisting of scenario-based day-ahead workload commitment and a real-time receding-horizon delivery assurance controller that enforces battery, thermal, and grid-interaction constraints. Case studies on the IEEE 39-bus system with Australian real data demonstrate that BESS substantially increases credible day-ahead workload commitment and improves real-time delivery robustness under transmission congestion. Sensitivity analyses further reveal a regime-dependent role transition of BESS -- from feasibility-oriented continuity support when PCC limits are binding to economy-driven flexibility provision as transmission constraints are relaxed.