About this virtual "lunch and learn"
Who is presenting?
Lisa Casey is the director of technical advisory at VDE Americas with nearly 15 years of experience in engineering and project management. Leveraging her experience as a former U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Programs technical lead, Lisa supports stakeholders through project development, construction, financing, and operations, by evaluating project designs, major equipment, site conditions, performance assumptions, and long-term operational considerations to help clients make informed investment decisions.
Taylor Geer is the COO and managing director at VDE Americas, implementing and overseeing the company’s strategic plans and operations. Engaged in the renewable energy transition for over 25 years, he has global experience with solar, energy storage, and wind projects across all stages of development and operation. Taylor not only helped pioneer the independent analysis that owners and lenders have relied on for the past two decades, but also has experience on the owner’s side of the table with capital at stake.
Dr. Jason Weeks is a principal engineer at VDE Americas and a subject matter expert in lithium-ion battery technology and BESS. Weeks leads VDE Americas’ energy storage advisory services, including modeling and validating system performance, identifying and mitigating technical risks, and reviewing commissioning and acceptance test practices and results. He holds a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin.
Why is this important?
Rapid growth in data center development is reshaping electricity demand and creating new challenges for power system planning, grid interconnection, and energy infrastructure investment. As developers race to secure reliable power for increasingly energy-intensive facilities, BESS are emerging as an important component of data center energy strategies.
Unlike conventional power generation and storage projects, data centers have unique operational requirements that complicate energy infrastructure design and development. These include stringent power continuity requirements, rapidly changing electrical loads, complex control systems, and evolving energy demands. While BESS can support a variety of critical services—from load smoothing and peak demand management to generation transitions and extended outage support—there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
What will you learn about?
In this VDE Tech Talk, Lisa Casey will moderate a discussion with VDE Americas subject matter experts Taylor Geer and Jason Weeks, Ph.D., exploring the technical and commercial considerations associated with developing and operating BESS for data centers. The discussion will examine how developers can match energy storage technologies and system architectures to specific operational requirements, distinguish between different layers of power reliability, and account for the unique risks associated with data center infrastructure investments.
Attendees will learn about:
- How data center development is reshaping electricity demand, grid access, and energy procurement strategies
- Differences between behind-the-meter and front-of-the-meter energy storage applications for data centers
- The distinct roles of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), site-level BESS, and dispatchable generation
- How to translate power, duration, reserve, and recharge requirements into an initial BESS design
- Key technical considerations for load smoothing, generation transitions, peak demand management, and outage support
- How battery degradation, augmentation, warranties, and maintenance requirements affect long-term project economics
- Unique development and operational risks associated with data center energy infrastructure
- How evolving data center technologies and power requirements can influence long-term BESS investment strategies
