A new proposal by the think tank RMI suggests that “power couples” could quickly supply energy to AI data centers without disrupting grid reliability or consumer costs. The term refers to a partnership between an energy producer and a technology company.
RMI claims that these partnerships could supply 50 gigawatts of power at under $200 per megawatt-hour, and 30 gigawatts at under $100. This is significant, as the demand for data center energy is growing rapidly.
The introduction of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, which claims to be more efficient than its rivals, has added new complexity to this issue. Energy firms are eager to tap into the US data center market, which is seen as a critical sector.
RMI believes that Texas-based ERCOT is an attractive regulatory venue for “power couples” but also sees opportunities in other major markets. As the demand for data center energy continues to grow, innovative solutions like this partnership model may be necessary to ensure sustainable power supply and minimize costs.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/02/21/power-couples-ai-data-centers