Calibrant to deploy 31-MW battery at Pacific Northwest data campus

• Calibrant Energy will install a 31-MW/62-MWh battery at Aligned Data Centers’ Pacific Northwest site to enhance reliability and grid services.

Calibrant Energy will deliver a 31-MW/62-MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at Aligned Data Centers’ Pacific Northwest campus, pairing modern data-center operations with on-site flexibility that cuts peak demand charges and strengthens resilience. The multi-hour system will charge during low-price periods and discharge into evening peaks, while providing sub-second frequency and voltage support that helps the local grid absorb more renewables.

Why a BESS for a data center? Uptime is non-negotiable, and the load profile is steady but peaky around cooling cycles. A campus-scale battery does double duty: it optimizes energy costs through time-of-use shifting and participates in grid programs for ancillary services, all while functioning as a precision tool during disturbances. With grid-forming inverter capability, the system can support black-start sequences and ride through faults, complementing traditional UPS and generator infrastructure.

Engineering will follow best practice for mission-critical sites. Expect containerized lithium-ion units with sectionalized fire-safety design, off-gas detection and robust thermal management; redundant controls networks; and a supervisory layer that co-optimizes energy, demand response, and reliability constraints. Interoperability with the facility’s building management and UPS systems is key: the battery must coordinate with chillers and IT load without compromising service-level agreements.

From a sustainability angle, on-site storage helps integrate contracted renewables by smoothing variability and reducing curtailment. It also paves the way for additional strategies—such as aligning non-critical compute tasks with renewable availability or enabling grid-interactive operations that support local feeders during stress events.

For the region’s grid operator, a dispatchable 31-MW asset located at a large load is valuable: it can absorb midday surplus and deliver precision support at dusk, close to where demand actually resides. For Aligned, the system turns an energy cost center into a revenue-participating asset with clear resilience benefits.

With Calibrant leading delivery, procurement will focus early on long-lead electrical gear—transformers, switchgear, and protection relays—and on acceptance testing that proves both grid-service performance and data-center safety integration before commercial operation.