Could a proposed North Dakota data center draw nearly as much power as Garrison Dam can generate?
A proposed data center in Cass County has drawn comparisons to Garrison Dam’s power output. How do the numbers stack up?
Yes.
The proposed Harmony Energy Park data center in Cass County would have an initial maximum power demand equal to about 93% of Garrison Dam’s installed generating capacity.
Developer Geronimo Power says initial electrical service would provide up to 540 megawatts to the site in Harmony Township. A U.S. Department of Energy research presentation lists Garrison Dam’s installed capacity at 583.3 megawatts.
The difference is 43.3 megawatts, making the proposed data center’s maximum demand nearly as large as the dam’s generating capacity.
Megawatts measure the rate at which electricity is generated or used. This comparison measures the data center’s proposed maximum demand against the dam’s installed capacity, rather than comparing their annual electricity consumption and production.
Geronimo says the project could expand beyond its initial electrical service, depending on customer demand and utility requirements. The company proposes two main data center buildings and supporting infrastructure on a 640-acre site.
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Sources:
- Geronimo Power: Harmony Energy Park
- U.S. Department of Energy: Identifying Hydropower Operational Flexibilities in Presence of Streamflow and Net-load Uncertainty
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