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UK Trial Shows AI Data Centers Can Cut Power Use 40% on Demand

The results will inform NVIDIA’s planned 100MW Virginia site.

Overview

  • Over five days in December 2025, a Nebius facility near London ran more than 200 simulated grid events using Emerald AI software and successfully hit requested load reductions each time.
  • Measured responses included shedding 30% of load in 30 seconds and sustaining reductions for up to 10 hours during low-wind periods, while critical workloads continued uninterrupted.
  • Partners on the study included National Grid, Nebius, Emerald AI, NVIDIA and the Electric Power Research Institute.
  • Trial partners say scaling this approach could return more than 2GW of capacity to the grid during peaks, easing constraints and helping integrate variable renewables.
  • Emerald AI outlined three flexibility methods: pausing or slowing non-urgent runs, migrating tasks between data centers with modest latency trade-offs, and prioritizing workloads through continuous monitoring.