Grid-Interactive Operation of Solar-Integrated Data Centers for Coordinated Local and System-Level Decarbonization

Abstract

The exponential growth of AI is accelerating the deployment of data centers (DCs), placing unprecedented strain on power infrastructures. In response, major IT corporations are increasingly adopting on-site solar generation to reduce grid dependence and meet sustainability targets. However, the true impacts of this strategy remain ambiguous. While DCs are flexible assets capable of temporal load-shifting, anchoring them to self-generated power may inadvertently constrain their grid responsiveness. To evaluate these trade-offs, we propose a receding-horizon optimization (RHO) framework coordinating job scheduling, grid interactions, and on-site solar generation for a stand-alone DC. Our findings reveal a critical paradox: although solar integration increases energy self-sufficiency and reduces overall DC emissions, it inherently limits the facility's capacity to absorb low-cost, low-carbon electricity from the grid. This implies a fundamental tension between individual corporate sustainability goals and system-wide grid decarbonization.