EPRI Europe convened energy stakeholders at the second European Data Centre Integration Roundtable, part of the DCFlex initiative, to address the growing challenges and opportunities of integrating data centres into Europe’s power system.

DCFlex, an EPRI initiative, is a global effort aimed at demonstrating how data centres can play an active role in supporting and stabilizing the electric grid while improving interconnection and operational efficiency. As the demand for digital services like AI increases, data centres are becoming one of the fastest-growing electricity consumers, creating both challenges and opportunities for grid operators. DCFlex addresses this by focusing on three core workstreams:

• Grid-Informed Flexible Data Center Designs – Developing future-ready designs that enable data centres to act as flexible grid resources.
• Transformational Utility Programs – Exploring innovative market structures and utility programs that incentivize and integrate data centre flexibility.

Grid Planning for Operational Flexibility – Equipping utilities with advanced planning practices to accommodate large, flexible loads and enhance system resilience. Building on discussions from the initial meeting in June 2025, this roundtable advanced dialogue on digitalisation, AI, grid connection processes, flexibility services, and grid code harmonization. Key sessions included:

• Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI – Aligning energy and digital strategies with insights from the European Commission.
• Scenario Planning for Grid Development – Improving forecasting through anonymized data-sharing and EU-level coordination.
• Grid Connection Processes – Addressing queue management and speculative requests.
• Adequacy, Flexibility & System Services – Evaluating standardized flexibility approaches to enhance resilience, led by EPRI Europe.

Grid Codes & Ride Through Requirements – Reviewing emerging technologies and harmonization needs for stability. The event gathered representatives from the European Commission, transmission and distribution system operators, energy suppliers, data centre operators, OEMs, and industry associations. EPRI Europe led a session on Adequacy, Flexibility, and System Services, highlighting the potential of standardized flexibility approaches to enhance grid resilience. The final discussion centered on Grid Codes and Ride-Through Requirements, reviewing harmonization needs and emerging technologies to support system stability.

Moving forward, EPRI Europe will continue to facilitate collaboration and develop actionable frameworks that support flexibility, harmonization, and resilience—ensuring that the energy system of tomorrow is smarter, stronger, and ready to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.

For more information on DCFlex, visit dcflex.epri.com.