Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Arizona State University, through its Office of Research and Sponsored Projects Administration (Orspa), received a $200,000 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Engineering (CFDA 47.041) effective October 1, 2026, with completion targeted for September 30, 2029. This collaborative research initiative develops unified modeling, analysis, and control frameworks to characterize the interactions between data center power-electronic systems and the electric grid. The primary deliverables include reduced-order models of data-center power systems that characterize how internal converters, control loops, and energy-storage elements shape the electrical load and impedance presented to the grid, addressing a critical gap in current planning and operational tools that employ overly simplified representations of data center behavior.

The research directly addresses the challenge that artificial intelligence and advanced computing systems create rapidly fluctuating electrical loads that existing grid models fail to capture adequately. By revealing how internal power-electronic systems transform computing workload variations into effective grid-level demand, this project will advance the scientific foundation for reliable integration of large-scale data centers into the electrical infrastructure while supporting workforce development at the intersection of computing and energy systems. The collaborative framework comprises three interconnected research thrusts focused on modeling, analysis, and control approaches that enhance grid stability and reliability in an era of expanding computational demands.