Hybrid Energy for AI Data Centers: Balancing Reliability and Cost

AI and HPC workloads are reshaping how data centers approach power strategy, driving volatility that traditional infrastructure cannot manage. With grid capacity constrained, operators are increasingly turning to on-site natural gas generation, but ensuring uptime requires more than generation alone. This paper examines how energy storage systems (ESS), including generation side lithium-ion and graphene capacitors, can stabilize power, improve efficiency, and reduce costs, providing a framework for selecting the optimal solution for mission-critical AI-driven environments.