# The mechanics of data center flexibility

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2025-08-28
- Length: 36m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-08-28-the-mechanics-of-data-center-flexibility

## Summary

Varun Sivaram, founder and CEO of Emerald AI, explains how computational workload orchestration can make data centers flexible assets for the grid. He details the EPRI DCFlex demonstration at an Oracle data center in Phoenix, which achieved a 25% load reduction, and discusses the distinction between training and inference workloads. Sivaram argues that new 'flexibility SLAs' and tools like the Emerald Simulator are required to convince grid operators to rely on this latent capacity, potentially unlocking 98 gigawatts of unused grid infrastructure.

## Chapters

- [2:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-08-28-the-mechanics-of-data-center-flexibility#t=139) Introduction: Varun Sivaram and Emerald AI
- [4:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-08-28-the-mechanics-of-data-center-flexibility#t=263) AI Data Center Load Profiles: Training vs. Inference
- [15:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-08-28-the-mechanics-of-data-center-flexibility#t=948) Mechanics of Flexibility: Temporal and Spatial Orchestration
- [23:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-08-28-the-mechanics-of-data-center-flexibility#t=1434) Emerald AI's Phoenix Demonstration and 25% Reduction
- [31:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-08-28-the-mechanics-of-data-center-flexibility#t=1866) Defining New Flexibility SLAs and Grid Operator Trust

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Emerald AI (company)
- Oracle (company)
- NVIDIA (company)
- EPRI (company)
- Google (company)
- Blackwell (product)
- GB 200 (product)
- EnergyHub (company)
- Anza (company)
- TVA (company)
- Michigan Power (company)
- Salt River Project (company)
- Databricks (company)
- Open AI (company)
- GPT 5 (product)

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- [Managing Energy At The Edge: Navigating The Modern Grid With Itron](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-09-05-managing-energy-at-the-edge-navigating-the-modern-grid-with-itron) (Over the Air)
- [Aligning Passion With Purpose: A Journey to Electrification and Sustainability](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-06-17-aligning-passion-with-purpose-a-journey-to-electrification-and-sustainability) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Powering the AI Era Sustainably: Breakthrough Climate Hardware Tech from 8 Innovators](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-12-04-powering-the-ai-era-sustainably-breakthrough-climate-hardware-tech-from-8-innova) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Powering EVs: Microgrids & DC Charging Solutions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-08-19-powering-evs-microgrids-dc-charging-solutions) (Moore's Lobby)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-08-28-the-mechanics-of-data-center-flexibility. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.