# The rise of flexible data centers

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2026-04-09
- Length: 43m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-04-09-the-rise-of-flexible-data-centers

## Summary

Varun Sivaram, CEO of Emerald AI, discusses the emerging market for data center flexibility and his company's recent $25 million funding round led by Energy Impact Partners. He explains how shifting AI workloads and behind-the-meter resources can help data centers utilize stranded grid capacity, thereby accelerating interconnection and lowering rates. The conversation covers the technical and economic mechanics of workload flexibility, the 'mini dispatch curve' for power management, and the critical need for utilities to offer differentiated service tiers to make this model viable.

## Chapters

- [0:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-04-09-the-rise-of-flexible-data-centers#t=8) Introduction and Market Context
- [4:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-04-09-the-rise-of-flexible-data-centers#t=273) The Grid Strain and Affordability Crisis
- [8:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-04-09-the-rise-of-flexible-data-centers#t=527) Compute Flexibility and Service Tiers
- [21:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-04-09-the-rise-of-flexible-data-centers#t=1273) Workload Types and Demonstration Results
- [28:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-04-09-the-rise-of-flexible-data-centers#t=1731) The Multi-Party Stack and Coordination
- [32:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-04-09-the-rise-of-flexible-data-centers#t=1962) Behind-the-Meter Resources and Mini Dispatch Curves
- [40:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-04-09-the-rise-of-flexible-data-centers#t=2425) Emerald AI’s Future and the 100MW Factory

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Emerald AI (company)
- Energy Impact Partners (company)
- NVIDIA (company)
- Google (company)
- Anthropic (company)
- Oracle (company)
- Digital Realty (company)
- Nebius (company)
- Siemens (company)
- GE Vernova (company)
- Dominion Energy (company)
- PJM (company)
- NERC (company)
- EPRI (company)
- DSX Flex (product)
- EnergyHub (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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 EVs: Microgrids & DC Charging Solutions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-08-19-powering-evs-microgrids-dc-charging-solutions) (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)
- [Smart Air, Smarter Cooling: Actasys's Innovation in Data Center Technology](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2025-02-10-smart-air-smarter-cooling-actasyss-innovation-in-data-center-technology) (Over the Air)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-04-09-the-rise-of-flexible-data-centers. 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.