As industries such as artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing continue to develop, data centres and intelligent computing clusters are becoming an increasingly important component of electricity demand growth. Computing infrastructure requires not only servers, storage equipment, and communication networks, but also a stable and reliable electricity supply, comprehensive power distribution infrastructure, and efficient energy management systems.

In 2026, power-computing coordination was included among the new infrastructure initiatives outlined in the Government Work Report and received further attention in the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan. As coordinated development between computing and electricity continues to advance, new application demand is likely to emerge in related areas such as electrical equipment, clean energy, energy storage, and intelligent management.

1. The Development of Computing Infrastructure Is Placing Higher Demands on Power Systems

Intelligent computing clusters and large data centres typically have concentrated loads, high requirements for continuous operation, and stringent power supply reliability requirements. As computing capacity continues to increase, their construction and operation must place greater emphasis on electricity connections, power supply assurance, energy efficiency management, and capacity expansion.

During project planning, factors such as computing facility electricity demand, regional grid capacity, power supply routes, and future expansion requirements need to be considered comprehensively. During operation, load changes, equipment status, and energy consumption must be continuously monitored to ensure that the power supply system meets operational requirements.

At the same time, the growth of AI-related loads and the expansion of renewable energy are creating new coordination challenges for power systems. Balancing power supply reliability, green electricity utilisation, operational efficiency, and investment cost-effectiveness has become an important issue in data centre and energy infrastructure development.

Therefore, power-computing coordination involves not only computing platforms and software systems, but also coordinated development across power sources, grids, distribution equipment, energy storage facilities, and energy management technologies.

2. Electrical Equipment Provides Fundamental Support for Power-Computing Coordination

Electrical equipment is essential to ensuring the stable operation of computing facilities and enabling the efficient allocation of energy resources. Depending on project requirements, relevant equipment and technologies mainly fall into the following areas.

• Power Transformation, Distribution, and Supply Assurance Equipment

Transformers, switchgear, power distribution systems, and associated protection devices are important components of the electricity supply infrastructure for data centres and intelligent computing clusters. As computing facilities expand, power supply capacity, distribution architecture, and equipment configuration need to be designed appropriately in accordance with load growth, grid connection conditions, and reliability requirements.

• Power Quality and Grid Safety Equipment

High-density power electronic equipment and complex loads may introduce technical challenges involving harmonics, reactive power, short-circuit current, and protection coordination. Depending on grid conditions, equipment characteristics, and engineering calculations, individual projects may need to evaluate the use of filters, reactive power compensation equipment, current-limiting devices, and other solutions to meet power quality and system safety requirements.

• Energy Storage and Power Electronics Technologies

In suitable applications, energy storage systems can participate in load regulation, backup power supply, and renewable energy utilisation. Converters and associated control systems are responsible for energy conversion and coordinated equipment operation. Their configuration must be evaluated comprehensively in terms of response speed, discharge duration, system efficiency, operational safety, and life-cycle cost.

• Intelligent Monitoring and Energy Management

Digital monitoring systems help operators understand electricity loads, equipment status, and energy consumption levels, providing data to support equipment maintenance, energy efficiency management, and operational optimisation. As power-computing coordination advances, closer integration between electrical equipment and digital management platforms will become increasingly important.

These areas do not imply that every data centre requires the same equipment. Specific technical solutions should be designed according to load characteristics, power supply architecture, grid requirements, and project economics.

3. Applications of Equipment Such as Dry-Type Air-Core Reactors Deserve Attention

In power systems, reactors can be used in different applications, including short-circuit current limitation, reactive power management, harmonic mitigation, and capacitor bank applications. Depending on system design and technical requirements, these devices can help support the safe and stable operation of power grids.

For example, dry-type air-core reactors do not use an iron core. They offer characteristics such as good inductance linearity, the absence of iron-core magnetic saturation, and oil-free operation. Their specific applications depend on product design and may include current limiting, shunt reactive power compensation, and filtering.

As renewable energy integration expands, the use of power electronic equipment increases, and grid configurations continue to evolve, demand for relevant reactor equipment needs to be assessed in the context of specific engineering applications. For computing facilities, whether a reactor is required and which type is appropriate should be determined by the grid connection scheme, power quality analysis, short-circuit current calculations, and system design requirements. Decisions should not be based solely on the electricity consumption scale of a data centre.

During reactor selection, technical parameters such as rated voltage and current, inductance, short-time withstand capability, insulation level, temperature rise, environmental conditions, and installation space must also be considered.

4. Coordination Between Clean Energy and Energy Storage Expands Opportunities for Industrial Cooperation

Power-computing coordination emphasises the rational planning of green electricity and computing facilities, creating further opportunities for collaboration in renewable energy development, grid infrastructure construction, and energy storage technology applications.

In regions rich in renewable energy resources, computing facilities can explore coordinated operation with wind power, solar power, and energy storage systems, subject to grid conditions and actual demand. In regions with concentrated computing demand and constrained power supply capacity, further investment in grid infrastructure, upgrades to power distribution facilities, and improvements in power supply assurance are required.

Such projects typically involve multiple stakeholders, including energy developers, grid companies, computing service providers, equipment suppliers, engineering design organisations, and digital technology service providers. Technical collaboration and coordination between supply and demand among these participants can help strengthen the links between project planning, equipment selection, and system construction.

However, the supply of green electricity and the siting of computing facilities must take into account grid capacity, transmission infrastructure, energy supply reliability, project investment, and market trading mechanisms. Sustainable operation can be achieved only when the technical conditions and commercial model are appropriately aligned.

5. Focusing on Technological Innovation and Industrial Value Chain Collaboration

The development of power-computing coordination reflects the increasingly close relationship between power infrastructure and digital infrastructure. In the future, as intelligent computing clusters expand, renewable energy utilisation increases, and digital energy management advances, the electrical equipment industry will need to place greater emphasis on power supply reliability, system compatibility, operational efficiency, and life-cycle management.

DKNC will continue to follow developments in new-type power systems, energy infrastructure construction, and electrical equipment technologies. The company will also monitor industry requirements and technology application trends, providing a basis for industry exchanges, supply-and-demand coordination, and potential cooperation.

Power-computing coordination is not simply an upgrade to a single technology or piece of equipment. It is a systematic development process involving electricity, computing, clean energy, and digital management. As related policies and engineering practices continue to advance, electrical equipment and energy infrastructure will play an increasingly prominent role in ensuring the stable operation of the computing industry and improving energy utilisation efficiency.

Sources: National Energy Administration, Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily, Digital China Summit