Abstract
In California, efforts to increase the availability and use of cleaner energy are well underway. As of 2024, renewable sources supplied 54% of the state’s total in-state electricity generation, with solar alone accounting for 28%, including both utility-scale and small-scale systems. 1 The state has committed to reaching 60% renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2045. 2 Major tech players are actively working to decarbonize and reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from operations in alignment with these goals. Yet, for flat-load facilities such as data centers, which operate 24/7 regardless of weather, relying solely on variable renewables like solar and wind remains a challenge for achieving true carbon-free electricity (CFE) around the clock.
Even in California, with its access to abundant renewable resources, data centers face a paradox:
◾ Surplus generation during the daytime when solar peaks, leading to curtailment and under-utilized capacity.
◾ Shortfalls at night, requiring battery storage or grid purchases that may still include carbon-intensive generation.
◾ Higher infrastructure costs, due to the need to oversize renewable capacity to meet low-generation periods.
The state’s SB 100 goal 3 , which calls for achieving 100% CFE by 2045, sets a high bar. Meeting it involves more than just installing solar panels and batteries. An innovative, balanced energy mix is essential for future data centers. To address this challenge, CorPower Ocean conducted a techno-economic optimization study exploring the role of wave energy in achieving a 95–100% clean electricity mix at minimum system cost for a hypothetical 100MW data center in the San Jose area. The model evaluated combinations of solar, wind (onshore and offshore), wave energy, batteries, and grid interaction to identify the most cost-effective mix.