Transmission Speed to Power vs Net Zero: The Data Center Dilemma - Clarke Energy
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Mar 10, 2026 Alex Marshall, VP of Business Development at Clarke Energy and biogas/CDP veteran, discusses the rush to on-site generation for hyperscale data centers. He explains why gas engines are the rapid bridging choice, what a 450 MW peaking station looks like, and how engines, batteries, CHP and fuels like biogas or hydrogen can meet speed, resilience and net zero pressures.
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Design Hybrid Solutions Around The Energy Trilemma
- Map the customer's electrical and thermal needs before selecting technologies and design a hybrid (engines, batteries, solar, microgrid controls) to match cost, carbon, and resilience priorities.
- Offer lifecycle services: engineer, procure, construct, then maintain for 10–15 years to secure availability and performance.
450 MW Peaking Station Shows Engines As Grid Backstop
- Clarke Energy's largest current project is a 450 MW peaking station outside London using banks of gas engines to start when wind falls and grid price signals rise.
- The project demonstrates engines' role as grid backstop when renewables underperform.
Why Engines Complement Batteries During Dunkelflaute
- Batteries excel at very fast ramps and short-duration services but can't cover multi-day low-wind/low-sun events (dunkelflaute), where gas engines provide necessary firm generation.
- Engines and batteries are complementary and can be deployed in parallel to cover both rapid ramps and long-duration gaps.