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Power Plays & Site Strategies — How AI & Scale Are Redefining Data Center Development
07/08/2025
Power Plays & Site Strategies — How AI & Scale Are Redefining Data Center Development
Episode Summary: In this episode of The ANTARA Edge Podcast, Tim Caulfield, Darin Andersen, and John Diamond dive into how the AI-driven expansion of data centers is reshaping site selection, power sourcing, and development strategy. From utility timelines to onsite generation, modular builds, and global supply chains, this discussion highlights the new playbook needed to build and operate the next generation of digital infrastructure. Cohosts: • Tim Caulfield, Managing Partner @ The ANTARA Group • Darin Andersen, Principal @ The ANTARA Group Guest: • John Diamond, Principal @ The ANTARA Group Topics include: • The collapse of traditional utility timelines—and how data centers are pivoting to diesel, gas turbines, reciprocating engines, microgrids, and even fuel cells • Modular power plants: rapid‑deployment examples from oil & gas and how they’re influencing data center models • Unit operation models: build‑own‑operate, transfer, and hybrid approaches • Redundancy planning: why N+1 is outdated—now talk is of N+2 and load shedding during generator maintenance • Supply chain challenges: long lead times in power plant equipment, regulatory barriers to onsite generation, and evolving utility relationships • Engineering integration: merging data center “white space” and power plant teams in design/build and operations • Financing shifts: billion‑dollar project checks, VC‑style capital rounds, and the emergence of mega‑project investors • Global expansion: jurisdictional differences (e.g. power‑generator rights), new international markets, and what that means for site strategy • Looking ahead: the rise of hydrogen, ammonia, solar, and wind paired with gas; the critical role of specialist operators; and how flexibility and optionality are shaping site portfolios Whitepaper: Continue the Conversation: LinkedIn X Bluesky
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