Aligned Taps Batteries to Speed Deployment
Partners with Calibrant on BESS to Accelerate Data Center Project in Pacific Northwest
Developer Aligned Data Centers will use an energy storage system from Calibrant Energy to bring a new data center facility online “years earlier than would be possible with traditional utility upgrades.”
A growing number of data center developers are using on-site power to launch projects in markets where grid power is delayed or not available, but most are using natural gas for power generation. By using battery storage and grid flexibility, Aligned is demonstrating the viability of energy storage as a “time to power” strategy.
The companies say this will be the first time in the U.S. that a battery system is purpose-built to accelerate interconnection and bring a large data center online.
“This project flips the script on how data centers access power,” said Phil Martin, CEO at Calibrant. “Rather than the false choice between waiting years for system upgrades or having to go off grid entirely, we’re working with leading data center providers like Aligned to use distributed energy solutions to facilitate and accelerate grid interconnection.”
The Aligned BESS Installation
Calibrant is an on-site energy specialist backed by Macquarie Asset Management. It will deliver a 31 megawatt / 62MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at Aligned’s data center campus in the Pacific Northwest. The on-site system will be operational in 2026.
The system will function as a grid-responsive asset, designed to discharge during peak demand, bolster grid reliability, and ensure uninterrupted service for Aligned’s customers.
Calibrant and Aligned have been partnering with a regional utility in the Pacific Northwest to explore flexibility as a means to accelerate interconnection.
Data center flexibility is a key technology for unlocking capacity, allowing utilities to deploy power they would otherwise hold in reserve to manage grid peaks. Recent research suggests that up to 100 gigawatts of additional headroom could be created on US grids if data centers can be flexible, and limit their power demands for a few hours each year.
A key tradeoff is that adopting flexible workloads could allow faster access to power for data centers, a key opportunity in a capacity-constrained landscape.
Calibrant’s Path to Power Strategy
The Aligned solution was developed using Calibrant’s Path to Power solution – a replicable, scalable approach that leverages on-site energy to overcome siting and capacity bottlenecks. Here’s Calibrant’s description:
Path to Power is a structured approach that helps large power users secure faster interconnection timelines and greater capacity. In exchange, the large power users commit to shifting their load to on-site energy assets during periods of grid stress — providing synthetic short-duration curtailment that supports capacity-constrained grids.
Both companies emphasized that this approach allows uninterrupted service for Aligned’s customers.
“This strategic project redefines how we grow in power-constrained markets,” said Andrew Schaap, CEO at Aligned. “With this BESS, we’re converting our load from a potential grid liability into a dynamic grid asset, providing the regional utility with the tools needed to accelerate our ramp. And we’re doing it responsibly, without impacting ratepayers.”
Schaap added:
“We’re proud to partner with Calibrant on a new market-defining initiative, directly addressing the industry’s critical constraint of access to grid power. Their experience in serving large power users and critical facilities was instrumental in our ability to move quickly and efficiently.”
Calibrant CEO Martin noted that its approach doesn’t require additional generation or transmission, addressing emerging concerns from residents and ratepayers about the impact of new data center campuses.
“This innovative model allows large power users to take control of their energy future while being stewards of their community – ensuring growth objectives are met in a manner that supports grid reliability, has minimal environmental impact, and doesn’t burden others with the costs.”
Batteries and Data Centers
Data centers have used batteries for many years in UPS (uninterruptible power supply) systems to provide temporary power until backup generators come online.
In recent years, energy systems have achieved greater scale and improved pricing, with BESS costs falling sharply in 2024. This is enabling new approaches to using energy storage at data center scale.
Calibrant and Aligned say they used domestic manufacturing for this project, and prioritized safety by including safer battery chemistry, built-in fire mitigation measures, and remote 24/7 monitoring for reliable and safe operations.
Calibrant and Aligned say they are considering similar projects in other markets, signaling a repeatable approach for data center operators facing interconnection challenges.
Learn More:
For a deep dive into data center flexibility and how it can enable faster time to power, check out our video podcast with Tyler Norris, a researcher at Duke University whose research has advanced these initiatives.