Next-Generation Data Centers Institute
Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Next-Generation Data Centers Institute (NGDCI) is a laboratory-led initiative to design, operate, and integrate next-generation AI data centers into the U.S. energy system.
The Energy and Infrastructure Challenge
Advancing secure, efficient, grid-integrated AI infrastructure aligned with national priorities
Advancing secure, efficient, grid-integrated AI infrastructure aligned with national priorities
AI adoption is accelerating demand for electricity, cooling, advanced components, and secure digital systems. U.S. data centers already consume more than 4 percent of national electricity and could reach up to 17 percent by 2030.
Rapid additions of AI data centers are straining resources. Water use, waste heat, siting constraints, and supply chain vulnerabilities add complexity. Meanwhile, investment is surging. Analysts project trillions of dollars in global spending on advanced data center infrastructure this decade.
The nation needs solutions that align AI growth with reliability, affordability and security.
NGDCI is a mission-focused platform led by ORNL in support of national energy and AI priorities to:
- Align AI data center growth with U.S. energy and security priorities
- Coordinate across the laboratory’s unique expertise and facilities
- Serve as a convening hub for collaboration across national laboratories, industry, utilities, and states.
- Move solutions from concept to real-world deployment with partners
It connects ORNL’s strengths in:
- Energy research and grid modernization
- Leadership-class computing and data infrastructure
- Advanced manufacturing and building technologies
- Transportation and infrastructure research
- Cyber, hardware and energy security
This institute provides a structure that is broad in scope, interdisciplinary by design, and flexible enough to collaborate with other national laboratories, industry, utilities, and state partners.
The institute organizes its work around eight interconnected areas that support U.S. leadership in AI infrastructure.
Thermal Management
Develop next-generation cooling approaches—from direct-to-chip and two-phase liquid systems to heat recovery—to reduce energy and water use in high-density environments.
Power Systems Architecture
Redesign data center power flows using advanced power electronics, direct-current architectures and integrated energy storage to improve efficiency and reliability.
Grid Integration
Use ORNL testbeds and modeling capabilities to ensure AI data centers support, rather than strain, the grid. Apply AI-driven controls and dynamic load coordination aligned with energy security needs.
Operations and Load Management
Develop intelligent platforms that optimize workloads, thermal performance and power use in real time, coordinating flexible AI loads with grid conditions.
Security by Design
Embed cyber-informed engineering into every layer of design and operation, addressing risks across hardware, software, supply chains and critical interfaces. Extend quantum-safe and advanced monitoring technologies into data center networks.
Integrated Systems Modeling
Assess impacts of AI infrastructure on energy demand, reliability, manufacturing capacity, workforce and supply chains. Provide decision-support tools for states, utilities and industry.
Lab as a Testbed
Use ORNL’s campus infrastructure and digital twin environments to evaluate cooling, power and control technologies under realistic conditions. These testbeds shorten development cycles and validate performance at scale before industry deployment.
Supply Chain and Critical Materials
Strengthen the resilience of advanced computing and energy systems by identifying and developing materials that improve thermal performance, power electronics, and system reliability. This work helps reduce vulnerabilities in hardware supply chains and accelerates domestic innovation.
Contact Us
Connect with the NGDC team on potential partnership or research opportunities, email ngdc@ornl.gov.