Aligned and Calibrant Partner on Landmark Battery Storage Project for Pacific Northwest Data Center

Innovative Power Solution for Data Center Growth

Aligned Data Centers has entered into a strategic partnership with energy storage developer Calibrant Energy to deploy a significant Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at one of its data center facilities in the Pacific Northwest, according to company announcements. The collaboration marks what analysts suggest could be a transformative approach to addressing power constraints in rapidly growing data center markets.

Innovative Power Solution for Data Center Growth
Project Specifications and Timeline
Groundbreaking Approach to Data Center Interconnection
Strategic Implications for Power-Constrained Markets
Broader Industry Impact and Future Applications

Project Specifications and Timeline

Under the agreement, Calibrant will deliver a 31MW/62MWh BESS to an undisclosed data center campus in the Pacific Northwest region. Sources indicate the system will be installed onsite with operations expected to commence in 2026. The companies claim this deployment will enable the facility to come online and scale operations significantly faster than traditional utility upgrades would allow.

Phil Martin, CEO at Calibrant, stated that “this project flips the script on how data centers access power. Instead of waiting years for substation and transmission line upgrades, fossil-based generators, or going off grid entirely, we’re working with leading data center providers like Aligned and engaged and forward-thinking utilities to use distributed energy solutions to meet their growth objectives.”

Groundbreaking Approach to Data Center Interconnection

The partners assert that this deployment represents the first instance of a BESS system being purpose-built specifically to accelerate the interconnection of a large-scale data center. The system will utilize Calibrant’s Path to Power solution, which enables the battery storage to function as a grid-responsive asset. According to reports, the BESS will discharge during peak demand periods to bolster grid reliability and ensure uninterrupted service for the data center operators’ customers.

The companies have reportedly partnered with an undisclosed regional utility within the Pacific Northwest to support the deployment and explore flexibility as a means to increase and accelerate interconnection capabilities.

Strategic Implications for Power-Constrained Markets

Andrew Schaap, CEO at Aligned, emphasized the strategic importance of this project, stating that “this strategic project redefines how we grow in power-constrained markets. With this BESS, we’re converting our load from a potential grid liability into a dynamic grid asset, providing the regional utility with the tools needed to accelerate our ramp. And we’re doing it responsibly, without impacting ratepayers.”

The report indicates that Aligned has a data center campus in development outside Portland, Oregon, in Hillsboro, which the company’s website suggests will include a BESS deployment. Aligned first announced plans for a 27-acre, 108MW Oregon campus in January 2023, with the initial data center (PDX-01) expected to offer 72MW of critical capacity and a second building (PDX-02) planned for 36MW.

Broader Industry Impact and Future Applications

The partners have indicated they are considering similar projects across other markets, suggesting this approach could see wider adoption throughout the data center industry. Calibrant, backed by Macquarie Asset Management, is reportedly one of the most prominent players within the US energy storage industry, with approximately 600MW/1,100MWh of onsite solar and storage in operation, construction, or development across the US and Canada.

This project comes at a time when Aligned was recently acquired by BlackRock and MGX in a deal reportedly worth $40 billion, described as the largest ever acquisition in the digital infrastructure space. Industry observers suggest that such substantial financial backing could accelerate the adoption of innovative energy solutions across the data center industry.

The deployment follows other recent energy storage initiatives by Calibrant, including three front-of-the-meter BESS installations in New York activated in August in collaboration with CoreSite, which will provide 13.5MW (55.7MWh) of dispatchable capacity to the Con Edison grid.

This partnership between Aligned and Calibrant represents what analysts suggest could be a significant shift in how data centers approach power management, particularly in regions experiencing power constraints or lengthy interconnection timelines.

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