UK trial shows AI data centers can cut power draw by 40%
UK trial shows AI data centers can cut power draw by up to 40 percent without disrupting workloads. The capability contrasts with the current always-on approach that strains grids.
The five-day test in December 2025 involved over 200 simulated grid events at a London facility. Partners included Emerald AI, NVIDIA, National Grid, Nebius, and the Electric Power Research Institute. The data center reduced power draw by up to 40 percent in each event while critical operations continued. The facility reacted to demand spikes, such as during soccer match halftimes, reducing power by 10 percent for up to 10 hours. In one event, the center cut its load by 30 percent in 30 seconds.
“This trial proves that NVIDIA-powered infrastructure can act as a grid-aware asset, modulating demand in real-time to support stability,” said Josh Paker, NVIDIA’s sustainability lead. Paker stated that making AI workloads responsive accelerates deployment while reducing the need for costly grid upgrades.
The study will serve as a blueprint for a 100MW power-flexible AI factory NVIDIA plans to operate in Virginia. The organizations involved plan to share data with the AI industry, regulators, and policymakers. Agreeing to curb usage during peak demand could lead to faster approvals for new data center grid connections. “We would love to get to a point where we can get customers on the network in two years, and this is part of that,” said Steve Smith, president of National Grid Partners, according to Bloomberg.