The rapid expansion of AI and cloud computing is driving unprecedented growth in hyperscale data centres, creating some of the largest new electricity loads ever connected to power systems. 

As utilities, network operators and developers work to accommodate hundreds of megawatts, and increasingly gigawatt scale facilities, protection engineers face new challenges related to grid connection, fault management, system stability, resilience, cybersecurity, and the integration of onsite energy resources such as battery storage and backup generation.

This webinar brings together experts from utilities, technology vendors, and academia to explore how the rise of data centres is influencing the development, deployment and operation of modern protection systems. Through a series of short presentations followed by an interactive panel discussion, attendees will gain practical insights into emerging challenges, lessons learned from real-world projects, and the protection strategies required to support the next generation of digital infrastructure. 

Why This Topic Matters

Data centres are becoming one of the fastest growing sources of electricity demand globally, driven by AI, cloud computing and digitalisation. Their scale, operational requirements and increasingly complex electrical architectures are challenging many of the assumptions on which traditional protection schemes were designed. At the same time, data centres are evolving into active participants in the power system through the deployment of batteries, microgrids, flexible loads and onsite generation.

Understanding the implications of these developments is becoming essential for protection engineers, network operators, equipment manufacturers and researchers as they work to maintain system reliability while supporting the energy transition and digital economy.

Key benefits:

• Gain insight into one of the most significant emerging challenges facing power system protection.

• Understand emerging best practices for integrating large data centres into transmission and distribution networks.

• Learn how evolving grid requirements may influence future protection design and standards.

• Stay ahead of industry developments that are likely to shape protection engineering over the next decade.

• Participate in a live discussion and ask questions of leading experts working at the forefront of this issue.