Aligned Data Centers has partnered with Calibrant Energy to launch a large-scale battery storage project designed to solve one of the data center industry’s biggest challenges: access to reliable grid power. The collaboration represents a major step toward addressing the growing strain on U.S. power infrastructure as data centers expand to support artificial intelligence and high-performance computing workloads.
Under the agreement, Calibrant will deliver a 31-megawatt / 62-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) at Aligned’s data center campus in the Pacific Northwest. The system, expected to be operational in 2026, will serve as a critical bridge between traditional grid capacity and the surging electricity demand of modern compute operations. By deploying on-site energy storage, Aligned expects to bring its facility online years earlier than would otherwise be possible with conventional utility grid upgrades.
The partnership reflects a growing shift among data center operators toward self-sufficient, flexible energy strategies. With AI workloads demanding enormous amounts of power, grid interconnection delays and limited capacity have become a major bottleneck for the industry. Utilities in several U.S. regions, including Northern Virginia and the Pacific Northwest, have struggled to keep pace with the energy demands of hyperscale cloud and AI computing campuses.
“This project flips the script on how data centers access power,” said Phil Martin, CEO of Calibrant Energy. “Rather than the false choice between waiting years for system upgrades or having to go off grid entirely, we’re working with leading data center providers like Aligned to use distributed energy solutions to facilitate and accelerate grid interconnection.”
Calibrant, a joint venture between Siemens Smart Infrastructure and Macquarie’s Green Investment Group, specializes in on-site energy systems for large-scale power users. The company’s “Path to Power” model – used in the Aligned deployment – is designed to help data centers and other high-demand facilities bypass lengthy grid connection queues by integrating on-site battery storage, renewable sources, and smart energy management.
The Pacific Northwest project would mark the first time in the U.S. that a battery system of this size has been purpose-built to accelerate interconnection for a large data center. Rather than serving as a simple backup system, the BESS will function as a grid-responsive asset. It will discharge energy during periods of high demand, help balance local grid stability, and reduce strain on regional utilities – all while maintaining uninterrupted service for Aligned’s customers.
“This strategic project redefines how we grow in power-constrained markets,” said Andrew Schaap, CEO of Aligned Data Centers. “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.”
Multiple Layers of Safety Measures
The partnership is the product of months of collaboration between Aligned, Calibrant, and the local utility, focusing on flexibility as a mechanism for faster and more efficient interconnection. Both companies emphasize that the model is scalable and repeatable, potentially offering a blueprint for other data center operators facing similar power constraints across the U.S. and internationally.
Safety and sustainability are also central to the project’s design. Calibrant and Aligned prioritized U.S.-based manufacturing and domestic supply chains in sourcing critical components, including transformers, switchgear, and batteries. The BESS incorporates multiple layers of safety measures – such as fire mitigation systems, advanced battery chemistry, and 24/7 remote monitoring – to exceed international standards for reliability and protection.
The timing of the initiative underscores the urgency of the industry’s energy challenge. The exponential growth of AI, coupled with an expanding cloud footprint and rising digital workloads, has created what analysts describe as a “power crunch” across global data center markets. Traditional grid infrastructure, designed decades ago for predictable and steady loads, is ill-equipped to handle the spikes and sustained high capacity now required by AI and machine learning models.
By enabling Aligned to accelerate deployment while simultaneously supporting the grid, the partnership could reshape how hyperscale operators and colocation providers approach energy strategy. It offers a pragmatic path for operators to secure sufficient capacity while maintaining environmental responsibility and public utility collaboration – two critical factors for long-term sustainability.
Both companies confirmed that additional projects are under consideration in other markets facing interconnection bottlenecks. If replicated successfully, Calibrant’s approach could serve as a model for how data centers continue to grow in an era where computing innovation is outpacing traditional infrastructure.
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