One of the biggest growth stories of 2026 is the rise of on-site powers for data centers. The AI boom is driving huge growth in demand for electricity to support AI factories, as well as traditional cloud workloads.

But many major markets have limited availability of utility power, as electric grids are struggling to keep pace with the growth of digital infrastructure.

Today on Data Center Richness, we are talking on-site power for data centers. Our guest is Scott Yappen, a business development specialist with Wartsila, a Finnish company that has been a major player in the global power market. Over the past year, Wartsila has signed several deals to provide generation capacity for U.S. utilities and and developers to support data center growth.

Our topics include the growth of data demand, options for onsite power, the supply of engines, and the key role of energy storage in future data center campuses. Here's an overview:

00:00 - Onsite Power, and Why it Matters

1:00 - Meet Scott Yappen of Wartsila.

5:00 - About Wartsila and Its Energy Offerings

8:00 - The Power Squeeze and the Rise of Onsite Generation

11:30 - Supply, Demand and Equipment Timelines

18:30 - Criteria for Onsite Power Development

21:00 - Bridging Power Vs Permanent Power

27:00 - The Road Ahead

------------------------------------------------------------------------

At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights:
https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

NOW ON SUBSTACK!

Check out the Data Center Richness Substack:
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

On the Web:

Data Center Richness
https://datacenterpodcast.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW

Wartsila Data Center Power Solutions
https://www.wartsila.com/energy/engine-power-plant-solutions/flexible-baseload-power-plants/data-center-power-solutions

Wartsila Chosen for Major U.S. Data Center Project
https://www.wartsila.com/media/news/29-01-2026-wartsila-chosen-for-a-major-u-s-power-plant-project-addressing-critical-energy-demand-driven-by-data-center-development-3711601

Scott Yappen on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottyappen/

Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:

Why AI Data Centers Are Building Their Own Power
https://youtu.be/Yx7QGNQsJaQ

Why Every Data Center Pro is Talking About Power (Dan Crosby)
https://youtu.be/GJiBqvUl5rU?si=PyyLwfBINXWtI8oo

Why Data Centers Are Turning to Bloom Energy
https://youtu.be/Z-udNWq2bAg?si=vHOizsz7AqT5M7eQ

All video by Data Center Richness.

Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx

Solving the Speed to Power Problem

Speed to power is the hot topic these days, as data center operators race to deploy new capacity for AI services. Many of the leading players in the AI sector say they are capacity constrained - meaning they can't get new compute fast enough.

Meanwhile, many utilities are also constrained, and have limited power availabel for new data center builds. Bridging this power gap is one of the most critical issues for the AI ecosystem.

That's our topic today on Data Center Richness, and our guest is Ned Buschelman, the director of engineering at APR Energy. APR has lengthy experience providing g power bridging solutions to major industrial users.

Ned shares how power constraints have created an opportunity for APR Energy and other providers of on-site energy solutions, how APR works with data center customers, and the future out look for on-site power.

Here's an overview of our discussion:

00:00 - Solving Capacity Constraints for AI

02:00 - About Ned Buschelman's Data Center Journey and APR Energy

04:30 - The Data Center Opportunity for Power Providers

07:20 - The Geography of Onsite Power for Data Centers

09:00 - What Customers Need to Know When Considering Onsite Power

10:45 - Bridging Power or Long-Term Generation?

13:15 - Timelines for Turbines and Engine Equipment

17:00 - The Road Ahead for Onsite Power

------------------------------------------------------------------------

At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights:
https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

NOW ON SUBSTACK!

Check out the Data Center Richness Substack:
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

On the Web:
Data Center Richness
https://datacenterpodcast.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW

APR Energy
https://www.aprenergy.com/

APR Energy Expands Power Generation Capacity to 1.1 GW
https://www.aprenergy.com/apr-energy-expands-power-generation-capacity-to-over-1-1-gw-as-data-center-power-demand-soars/

Ned Buschelman on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nbuschelman/

Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:

Why AI Data Centers Are Building Their Own Power
https://youtu.be/Yx7QGNQsJaQ

Why Every Data Center Pro is Talking About Power (Dan Crosby)
https://youtu.be/GJiBqvUl5rU?si=PyyLwfBINXWtI8oo

Why Data Centers Are Turning to Bloom Energy
https://youtu.be/Z-udNWq2bAg?si=vHOizsz7AqT5M7eQ

All video by Data Center Richness.

Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx

There's been a big focus on hyperscale facilities for generative AI. Where does the enterprise customer fit in the current data center landscape?

One of the providers focused on the enterprise market is Flexential, a company with a history providing network-focused colocation and wholesale space in second-tier markets.

Flexential CEO Ryan Mallory joins us today on Data Center Richness to share his take on the state of the enterprise data center market, how enterprises are adopting AI, and the road ahead for Flexential.

Here's an overview of our conversation:

00:00 - The Enterprise AI Data Center Landscape

01:30 - Ryan Mallory's Data Center Journey

02:52 - About Flexential: Services, Infrastructure and Who it Helps

05:55 - The Evolution of Design in the Era of AI

10:20 - Balancing Wholesale and Multi-Tenant Requirements

12:00 - The Cloudy Context for Enterprise AI

15:00 - Where AI is Gaining Traction in the Enterprise

18:00 - AI and the Enterprise Network

21:30 - Data Center Geography and the Road Ahead

26:00 - Where Will Inference Live?

----------------------------------------------------------------------

At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights:
https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

NOW ON SUBSTACK!

Check out the Data Center Richness Substack:
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

On the Web:
Data Center Richness
https://datacenterrichness.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW

Flexential
https://www.flexential.com/

Flexential Lines up $800 Million toDrive Growth
https://www.flexential.com/resources/press-release/flexential-completes-800-million-asset-backed-securities-offering

Ryan Mallory on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-mallory-3483504/

Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:

Why Data Centers Are Moving to Power-Rich Locations
https://youtu.be/AlIwlsiLa5M

Data Center Innovation in the Age of AI
https://youtu.be/P_0U0SLFJc8?si=Khxv-My10V0V3slU

How Will Data Centers Be Different in 2030
https://youtu.be/IUO8fUWNoX8?si=FmoHM5EuAjOAlnpn

All video by Data Center Richness.

Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx

The AI boom is creating a massive business opportunity at the intersection of the data center and energy sectors. But these are both complex industries with lots of specialized knowledge. How can these two crucial industries work together effectively to build the future?

We explore this questions today with the help of Arushi Sharma Frank, who is an expert in energy market economics, regulation, and technology. Her work spans the intersection of policy, markets, and infrastructure, shaping how complex energy systems evolve under structural change. With industry background at Constellation Energy and Tesla, she is now a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies,

Arushi has been a fantastic source of information about power and policy, the energy markets, and the workings of utilities and power grids. I first encountered her work on energy podcasts, and asked her to share her insights with my audience here at Data Center Richness.

Our conversations looks at the AI power crunch, why solving it is so challenging, and how better communications can help. And Arushi shares her insights on recent efforts to address power constraints on the PJM and ERCOT grids.

We cover a lot of ground, and share lots of insights and educational resources along the way. Here's an overview of our conversation:

00:00 - The AI Boom Energizes Two Key Sectors

02:30 - Arushi Sharma Frank's career journey and current work in the energy sector.

08:45 - How the AI Boom Has Disrupted Energy

13:15 - Flexibility: What it Means for Energy and Data Centers

22:00 - Educating the Energy Sector About Data Centers

24:00 - Hyperscale Secrecy as a Barrier to Progress

30:30 - How Policy and Regulation are Positioned to Help

35:40 - The PJM Dilemma: The White House Gets Involved

50:20 - How Batteries Can Aid Data Centers (and the Grid)

55:00 - The Road Ahead: Opportunities for Change

---------------------------------------------------------------------

At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights:
https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

NOW ON SUBSTACK!

Check out the Data Center Richness Substack:
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

On the Web:
Data Center Richness
https://datacenterrichness.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW

Arushi Sharma Frank on Substack
https://arushisharmafrank.substack.com/

Arushi Sharma Frank at CSIS
https://www.csis.org/people/arushi-sharma-frank

Upcoming "Ted Talk" on ERCOT
https://arushisharmafrank.substack.com/p/grid-positive-people-positive-where

ERCOT PGRR 134 Issue
https://www.ercot.com/mktrules/issues/PGRR134#keydocs

Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:

Data Centers, AI and the Future of Power
https://youtu.be/EYo2YK7L5q0?si=x60ed4yWu46gt3fV

Why Every Data Center Pro is Talking About Power
https://youtu.be/GJiBqvUl5rU

Flexibility: The Key to Unlocking Data Center Power
https://youtu.be/D6-1QxRRxoA?si=OUgglh2wSJ0abOhF

All video by Data Center Richness.

Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx

Why the Future of Data Might Be Off Earth

Data centers in space are a hot topic. Hyperscale data center builders like Google and Crusoe are planning space-based facilities, and tech veterans like Eric Schmidt, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk also have ambitions for deploying data centers in space.

All these headlines have folks wondering - are data centers in space a pipe dream, or the next phase in digital infrastructure?

To find out, I sought out someone who has actually deployed data storage on the moon. Chris Stott is the executive chairman of Lonestar Data Holdings, whose mission is to provide data storage in outer space, including on the surface of the moon.

On today's show, Chris shares about Lonestar's missions to the moon, what's involved in deploying IT infrastructure in space, how data sovereignty works above the earth, and the future growth prospects for data centers in outer space. This was a really fun conversation, which I think you'll enjoy.

00:00 - Data Centers in Space - The Final Frontier?

01:30 - Meet Chris Stott of Lonestar Data. Chris shares about his career in the space industry.

03:00 - Why Lonestar Data Holdings was founded, and details on its lunar missions

05:25 - Why the Moon for Data Storage?

10:20 - How Operating in Space is Different - Cooling, Radiation and more

16:20 - Data Sovereignty in Space (and how it differs from Terrestrial Data Storage)

19:00 - Why are There so Many Space Data Center Initiatives?

23:45 - Free Power? A Closer Look at Solar Arrays in Space

26:40 - The Road Ahead: Lonestar Data's Roadmap for Data Storage in Space

----------------------------------------------------------------------

At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights:
https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

NOW ON SUBSTACK!

Check out the Data Center Richness Substack:
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

On the Web:
Data Center Richness https://datacenterrichness.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW

Lonestar Data Holdings
https://www.lonestarlunar.com/

Lonestar on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/lonestar-data-holdings/

Lonestar Data Makes it to the Moon
https://www.datacenterfrontier.com/edge-computing/article/33037610/lonestar-data-makes-it-to-the-moon-on-im-1-lunar-lander

Chris Stott on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-stott-aa0820/

Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:
Data Center Innovation in the Age of AI
https://youtu.be/P_0U0SLFJc8?si=Khxv-My10V0V3slU

Why Every Data Center Pro is Talking About Power Now
https://youtu.be/GJiBqvUl5rU?si=KqZsV0pkwb_aywdq

All video by Data Center Richness.

Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx

The data center landscape is changing fast, as AI drives innovation in both energy and cooling. In a industry dominated by big companies and big requirements, it's a tricky time for data center startups.

Yuval Bachar is the founder of ECL, a startup that set out to pioneer hydrogen-powered data centers. With the arrival of ChatGPT and the AI data center boom, ECL has changed along with the industry.

Today on the Data Center Richness podcast, Yuval is here to share how ECL has moved to the cutting-edge of AI, deploying the very latest NVIDIA high-density racks in a hydrogen-powered, liquid-cooled data center. It's a story that reinforces the importance of an engineering mindset, and always being ready to innovate.

Let's get started ….

CHAPTERS GO HERE

00:00 - How data center startups navigate in an era of big, fast change

01:45 - Meet Yuval Bachar and learn about his "Data Center Journey"

09:30 - Managing Hydrogen-Powered Liquid-Cooled NVIDIA Racks

15:35 - Building Out the Executive Team at ECL

18:00 - Growth Opportunities in Texas with Natural Gas and Hydrogen

22:00 - The Shape of Inference and the Role of Data Centers

28:15 - The Evolution of Modular Data Center Design

31:40 - Cooling: How Dense Can We Go?

36:25 - The Road Ahead

----------------------------------------------------------------------

At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights:
https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

NOW ON SUBSTACK!

Check out the Data Center Richness Substack:
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

On the Web:
Data Center Richness
https://datacenterrichness.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW

ECL Web Site
https://ecldc.com/

Yuval Bachar on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuvalbachar/

Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:

How Factory-Built Designs Speed AI Deployments
https://youtu.be/hZ6vuoDJ8Nc?si=qIhnFjV_CvhSDqst

Data Center Innovation in the Age of AI
https://youtu.be/P_0U0SLFJc8?si=Khxv-My10V0V3slU

Why Every Data Center Pro is Talking About Power Now
https://youtu.be/GJiBqvUl5rU?si=KqZsV0pkwb_aywdq

All video by Data Center Richness.

Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx

AI is changing the way we design and build data centers. Meanwhile, cloud computing and enterprise companies continue to need lots of IT capacity.

This creates a challenge for the teams that design data centers, who must navigate rapid change amid tensions between workloads and technologies. AI or cloud? Air-cooled or liquid-cooled?

This is Sara Martin's world. Sara is an Associate Principal at HED, an integrated design end engineering firm that works with many data center clients. On today's podcast Sara provides an inside look at how the rise of AI is creating new challenges, and how leading data centers are using design to build for the future in a period of big fast change.

Here's an overview of the conversation with Data Center Richness host Rich Miller and Sara Martin of HED:

00:00 - Why AI Challenges the Status Quo in Design

01:15 - Sara Martin shares her Data Center Journey, and what HED does.

05:10 - The AI Transition and Modular Designs

10:00 - Hybrid Cooling in Multi-Tenant Data Centers

14:45 - The Pace of Change as a Design Challenge

21:20 - Data Center Water Usage and Community Pushback

27:00 - Trends in Closed-Loop vs. Evaporative Cooling

32:30 - The Future Path of Power and Cooling

39:00 - Supply Chains and Why Modular Matters

At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

NOW ON SUBSTACK!

Check out the Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterrichness.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW

HED's Data Center Portfolio https://hed.co/stories/mission-critical

Sara Martin on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-martin-7b61b546/

Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:

How Factory-Built Designs Speed AI Deployments https://youtu.be/hZ6vuoDJ8Nc?si=qIhnFjV_CvhSDqst

Data Center Innovation in the Age of AI https://youtu.be/P_0U0SLFJc8?si=Khxv-My10V0V3slU

Can Data Centers Be Good Neighbors? https://youtu.be/syRpAj9aCSg?si=4r6IQJEjukwQ67Eu

All video by Data Center Richness.

Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx

The Internet is a network of networks. And it's the connections between these networks that can transform a local business into a global enterprise. From the early days of the Internet, Equinix has been one of the primary places where these connections happen.

Equinix has made nearly half a million interconnections between the 10,000 companies using its 270 data centers around the world, making it a key player in the growth of colocation services and cloud computing.

How is Equinix positioned for the AI boom? To find out, we sat down with DD Dasgupta, the Vice President of Product Marketing at Equinix. DD shared his take on the power of ecosystems in the AI economy, the future of inference, and how Equinix is helping enterprise customers chart their way through the AI landscape.

Here's an overview of the conference between Data Center Richness host Rich Miller and DD Dasgupta of Equinix.

00:00 - Intro to DD Dasgupta and his Data Center Journey

02:45 - Overview of Equinix and its global data center ecosystem

04:00 - The AI Opportunity for Equinix and "Equinix 3.0"

07:25 - How Enterprise Customers are Using AI

12:55 - The Ecosystem Outlook - Which Verticals Are Using AI Most?

16:15 - The Equinix Take on Where Inference Will Live

20:25 - Solution Validation Labs - Test Before You Deploy

At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

NOW ON SUBSTACK!

Check out the Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterrichness.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW

Equinix https://www.equinix.com/

Distributed AI at Equinix https://www.equinix.com/solutions/distributed-ai

Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:

Why Data Centers Are Moving to Power-Rich Locations https://youtu.be/AlIwlsiLa5M

Data Center Innovation in the Age of AI https://youtu.be/P_0U0SLFJc8?si=Khxv-My10V0V3slU

How Will Data Centers Be Different in 2030 https://youtu.be/IUO8fUWNoX8?si=FmoHM5EuAjOAlnpn

All video by Data Center Richness.

Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx

Thumbnail Image via Equinix