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SCOTT HANNA REVENUE OFFICER, CUMULUS DATA

Cumulus Data itself is a subsidiary of Talen Energy. So, the question of energy sourcing was a natural fit for the development of this new site.

The energy for the site will be entirely generated by Talen Energy’s Susquehanna nuclear power generation facility, through a direct connection to the 2.5GW Susquehanna power stations, without intermediation by legacy electric transmission and distribution utilities.

This direct-connect, on-site power generation model enables industry leading total cost of ownership, with an exceptionally attractive power rate.

Thanks to the success that it has already attained in this sphere, Hanna explains that Cumulus Data plans to build on this success and continue deploying nuclear energy technologies across its portfolio.

“Our focus today is on completing the buildout of our flagship 1,200 acre, 475MW data centre campus. Then, looking further into the future, we expect to replicate this direct-connect model at other locations to provide access to clean, reliable, lowcost data centre services to additional customers and communities,” explains Scott Hanna, the Chief Revenue Officer of Cumulus Data.

So, is it possible that this first development marks the start of an industry-wide energy shift?

Sustainability at scale – nuclear as a green power solution

The technology deployed in this site represents a pivotal milestone in the company’s ESG investments.

“Cumulus Data is a disruptor when it comes to using nuclear power in data centres. We’re the only company out there delivering nuclear power via a direct connection from a nuclear power facility. It’s truly groundbreaking, and we strongly feel it will push data centre sustainability to the next level,” explains Hanna.

As it stands, nuclear energy generates more than 50% of America's carbon-free electricity and 20% of its total electricity. And, from a sustainability perspective, nuclear power offers a wide range of benefits to data centre providers.

“Nuclear energy is clean, safe, reliable, and affordable, all of which makes it a good option for powering a data centre,” Hanna adds.

What’s more, nuclear plants operate 24/7/365, and can fulfil the demand of data centre operations while being complemented by other intermittent carbon-free sources, such as wind and solar power. As a result, there’s ample scope for it to cater to the extensive (and growing) energy needs of the industry.

In fact, nuclear energy is currently America’s most reliable energy source. In 2021, the country’s nuclear power plants operated at full capacity for more than 92% of the time. In comparison, natural gas only achieved this 54% of the time, coal plants for 49%, wind plants for 34%, and solar plants for 25%.

“We’re in an era when most companies have sustainability initiatives.

Meanwhile, the demand for energy to power technology continues to grow exponentially,” Hanna says.

“By directly connecting to zero-carbon nuclear energy, data centre customers receive a 100%-verifiable source of clean energy. And, because nuclear energy is ‘always on’, it can deliver the reliability that data centre operators require.”

“We believe the Cumulus Data model solves what we call the energy Trilemma. It delivers electricity that is zero-carbon, low-cost, and reliable. With nuclear being carbon-free and the most reliable source of electricity, this is a big step forward in making data centres more sustainable.”

Cumulus Data’s position as a nuclear energy pioneer

Cumulus Data is leading the data centre industry in this sphere, with the company’s new site in particular representing a first of its kind in the American market.

“No other company in the data centre industry is using nuclear in this way. Because of that, we are paving our own path, proving that there are new and innovative ways to elevate sustainability in our industry,” Hanna states.

“Tremendous gains have been made when it comes to using less water, making cooling more efficient, and lowering PUE. The use of nuclear power is truly groundbreaking and can make a significant impact as the industry works to meet sustainability goals.”

To get both its clients and the wider public on board with the shift towards nuclear energy, Cumulus Data is also playing a key role in the industry’s sustainable energy discussions.

For instance, not only is the company a founding member of the iMasons’ Climate Accord, but Talen and Cumulus Data are also working to help their customers achieve carbon neutrality by uniting to adopt a common standard. This approach is being enabled by solutions such as the Cumulus Data carbon-free data centre platform.

“We’re joining together with industry leaders to advance sustainability. Key leaders are already having discussions around the importance of nuclear power in reaching the United Nations’ net-zero emissions by 2050 goal, so we’re heading in the right direction,” Hanna concludes.

“We are committed to working with our customers and stakeholders in the industry to advance sustainability goals and keep nuclear energy as part of the conversation.”