2 MW Design Draft — Self-Powered

Powered shell for high-density compute: on-site generation, battery storage, and direct-to-chip liquid cooling.

DRAFT · For discussion only

Grid available? See the Utility-Connected draft.

01 · Project Intent

A self-powered, liquid-cooled shell, ready for tenant fit-out

Deliver 2 MW of critical IT capacity (~2.2–2.4 MW total facility load) powered by on-site generation and battery storage. The core design is fully islanded, behind-the-meter: no utility connection required.

Speed to power

On-site natural-gas generation as primary source
No dependency on utility interconnection queues

High density

80–120 kW per rack, ~17–25 racks
~75% of heat captured to liquid

Repeatable

Modular 2 MW block, replicable on adjacent pads
Vendor-agnostic equipment specs

02 · Power Architecture

BESS + N+1 natural-gas gensets

Design load

2.0 MW IT at target PUE ~1.10 (annual) to ~1.20 (peak)
Size generation and BESS to ~2.4 MW facility peak

N+1 gensets: charge BESS, support bus

N units carry ~2.4 MW facility load plus BESS recharge, with 10–15% headroom at site rating
Example basis (up to ~5,000–6,000 ft, 95–100°F): derate ~10–20%, site-dependent
Indicative: 4 × ~1.2 MW or 5 × ~1.0 MW nameplate

BESS (parallel, grid-forming)

Power: ~2.5–3 MW, full facility load
PCS stage also N+1, so a single inverter failure does not interrupt the critical load
Energy: ~8–12 MWh nameplate → ~4 h at ~2.2–2.4 MW, after depth-of-discharge and aging reserve
Inverter output continuously feeds critical buses A/B; covers genset trips, load steps, multi-hour backup

Gas supply

~23–27 MMBtu/h at full output incl. BESS recharge (heat rate ~9–10 MMBtu/MWh)
≈ 0.55–0.65 MMscf/day firm supply

Ranges are preliminary, pending load study, manufacturer site ratings, and gas supply assessment.

02a · Power One-Line

Islanded common-bus topology

Every source (N+1 gensets, BESS, optional solar) ties to one MV bus through its own breaker; separate A and B buses feed dual-corded IT loads. The grid-forming BESS continuously feeds critical buses A/B (green path); because it is on a parallel common bus, gensets can still carry the load if the BESS trips. Draft, not for construction.

02b · Operating Modes

Islanded operating modes

Solid = active, dashed = off / standby. The BESS always forms and feeds the critical bus, so source events need no transfer at the load.

03 · Cooling

Direct-to-chip liquid cooling with dry coolers

Heat split (2 MW IT)

~1.5 MW to liquid via cold plates + CDUs
~0.5 MW residual air-side heat
Elevated-temperature D2C for near-zero water use

Facility water loop

Elevated temperature: ~45°C (113°F) supply / ~55°C return
Pure dry coolers as primary heat rejection; closed loop, propylene glycol for freeze protection
~45°C supply holds a ~7°C approach even at 95–100°F design days

Water use

Near-zero water: no evaporative cooling in the base design
Adiabatic assist optional and minimal, only for the hottest design days at elevation

Air-side load

Rear-door HX / fan walls
Fed by a small closed-loop trim branch for cooler water (no water consumption)
Hot/cold aisle containment

Target PUE ~1.10–1.20 where practical, subject to final equipment selection and IT/CDU supply temperature limits.

03a · Cooling Loop

Cooling loop schematic

Closed glycol loops end to end. CDUs isolate the technology loop from the facility loop; pumps and dry coolers are N+1.

03b · Heat Split & Seasons

Heat split & seasonal operation

04 · Climate Fit

Cool, dry continental climates

Conditions

Example design basis: up to ~5,000–6,000 ft elevation
Cold winters, hot dry summers
Design dry-bulb up to ~95–100°F; low humidity

Cooling impact

~45°C supply allows dry-only heat rejection year-round
Optional adiabatic assist reserved for extreme hours; low humidity makes it effective if ever used
Glycol and freeze protection for cold-weather operation

Altitude impact

Gensets derated for elevation and heat (site-dependent)
Thinner air reduces dry-cooler and fan capacity — size coils and fans accordingly
Electrical equipment altitude ratings verified

05 · Building Options

Building options & square footage

2 MW at 80–120 kW/rack ≈ 17–25 racks → ~1,500–4,000 sq ft of white space (incl. aisles and CDUs). The rest of the footprint is electrical, mechanical, and support space.

Option	Description	Indicative footprint
A · Pre-engineered metal building	Single-story shell, data hall + electrical/mechanical rooms	~8,000–12,000 sq ft
B · Modular / prefabricated	Factory-built IT and power modules on prepared pad	~5,000–8,000 sq ft of modules
C · Retrofit existing building	Adapt existing industrial/warehouse structure	~10,000–15,000 sq ft

Plus exterior yard for gensets, BESS (~8–12 MWh), transformers, and dry coolers (indicative 0.75–1.5 acres). All figures are draft ranges.

06 · Site Requirements

What a candidate site needs

Land

~2–4 acres, flat, buildable
Industrial or compatible zoning

Gas supply

Firm ~0.55–0.65 MMscf/day at adequate pressure

Connectivity

Diverse fiber routes

Permitting

Air permit for prime generation (emissions controls may be required)
Noise limits at property line (gensets, dry coolers)
Fire code for BESS

Engineering studies

Grounding for islanded operation
Short-circuit & protection coordination with limited inverter fault current

07 · Next Steps

Next steps

1. Site screening

Shortlist sites against requirements

2. Feasibility

Gas supply, air permit, and load study

3. Basis of design

Lock power, cooling, and building option

4. Budget & schedule

Develop cost estimate and delivery timeline

Discuss a project →

This document is a design draft for discussion; all figures are preliminary. For sites with a viable grid connection, see the Utility-Connected draft.