# When to colocate data centers with generation

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2025-09-12
- Length: 36m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-09-12-when-to-colocate-data-centers-with-generation

## Summary

Brian Janous, co-founder and chief commercial officer at Cloverleaf Infrastructure and former head of energy at Microsoft, argues against the hype of colocation data centers with on-site generation. He contends that the primary constraint for data center interconnection is peak capacity, not 24/7 energy, and that utilities solve for summer and winter peaks rather than continuous load. Janous advocates for using grid-enhancing technologies (GETs), virtual power plants (VPPs), and long-duration storage to unlock existing grid capacity faster and cheaper than building new gas or nuclear plants on-site.

## Chapters

- [2:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-09-12-when-to-colocate-data-centers-with-generation#t=148) Introduction: The Colocation Hype Cycle
- [4:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-09-12-when-to-colocate-data-centers-with-generation#t=281) Data Center Power Requirements and Reliability
- [10:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-09-12-when-to-colocate-data-centers-with-generation#t=619) The Economic Case Against On-Site Generation
- [16:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-09-12-when-to-colocate-data-centers-with-generation#t=1013) Solving for Peaks vs. 24/7 Energy
- [24:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-09-12-when-to-colocate-data-centers-with-generation#t=1467) Grid Orchestration and Virtual Power Plants
- [32:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-09-12-when-to-colocate-data-centers-with-generation#t=1968) Skepticism of On-Site Nuclear and Renewables

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Cloverleaf Infrastructure (company)
- Microsoft (company)
- XAI (company)
- Meta (company)
- Intersect Power (company)
- EnergyHub (company)
- Fermi (company)
- Oakley (company)
- Switch (company)
- Form Energy (company)
- Irenia (company)
- Fultus (company)

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## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-09-12-when-to-colocate-data-centers-with-generation. 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.