Data centre growth is increasingly colliding with a simple constraint: where, and when, the grid can deliver new capacity – and a new tool from Atos and National Grid could help solve that problem.
Atos and National Grid have unveiled a newly developed platform dubbed Triton, that will give National Grid a clearer view of home demand that is likely to build across the network and enable faster scenario modelling.
Triton is described as a digital twin and data visualisation tool that creates a digital replica of National Grid’s physical infrastructure and combines it with demand forecasts. The idea is to map expected demand growth at grid supply points and transmission substations, so planners can identify pinch points earlier and prioritise reinforcement where it will have the biggest impact.
For the data centre sector, the most relevant line is how the tool is expected to be used: Atos and National Grid say Triton can support assessment of future customer connections, such as data centres, by helping to evaluate local and regional network capacity. In other words, it is aimed at improving National Grid’s ability to test ‘what if’ scenarios for large new loads, and to understand what upgrades may be required to accommodate them.
That gives data centre operators peace of mind when selecting a site, as it’ll more accurately be able to tell what grid upgrades will be needed, and whether it’ll be suitable to host the kind of facility they want to build. It could also help with the one thing that is currently key in the UK’s data centre sector – time.
According to Atos and National Grid, Triton is able to accelerate the decision-making process. By running network scenarios using the digital replica and consolidated datasets, National Grid says it can reduce the time needed to analyse options and decide where to reinforce the network by 70%. If that holds true, it is significant for data centre delivery schedules, where uncertainty around time-to-power can be as material as land, planning, or build costs.
Owen Wilkes, Network Design Director at National Grid, noted, “Triton demonstrates how innovation, data and technology can drive positive change and accelerate progress towards our decarbonisation goals. Through our collaboration with Atos we have created a product that will enable National Grid to virtually model scenarios for how, when and where we expand our network and services to meet increased demand for energy, ensuring we continue to deliver a resilient, future-ready electricity network.”
Graham Scanlon, Head of Critical National Infrastructure, Atos UK&I, added, “This tool will improve efficiency and remove risk for National Grid. They can now make smart data-based decisions quickly. We’re pleased to have been able to support both their current operations and needs but also on their future business. We are continually innovating on how to use technology to meet the challenge of climate change and shifting geo-political winds.”
Triton consolidates thousands of datasets made available by distribution and transmission stakeholders, automating processes that would otherwise take planners significant time to assemble and interpret. Beyond the headline visual layer, it is also designed to feed into National Grid’s engineering and monitoring tools, speeding up model configuration and enabling faster stress-testing of multiple network options.
In practice, that should mean National Grid can more quickly compare different build and reinforcement paths for areas seeing sharp demand growth – and data centres are increasingly part of that picture, alongside electrification of transport and heat, and new industrial loads. The tool is positioned as one part of how the transmission system operator can plan for that demand growth while supporting the UK’s wider decarbonisation goals.
