Economically Decarbonizing Data Center Energy: Achieving 80%+ Clean Power with Renewables and Storage
Data centers are the backbone of the digital economy—but their relentless energy demands challenge both grid reliability and climate goals. In this session, Peter Hirschboeck will share practical strategies for economically decarbonizing data center energy supply. Drawing on real-world experience with global hyperscale operators, Peter will break down how to achieve 80% or greater carbon-free energy through a mix of renewables, storage, and innovative procurement models. The talk will cover market and regulatory trends, the business case for integrating clean energy and storage, and actionable frameworks for balancing reliability, cost, and sustainability. Attendees will gain a clear roadmap for building resilient, low-carbon data center portfolios—demonstrating that decarbonization and economic value can go hand in hand.
Speaker Bio:
Peter Hans Hirschboeck, P.E., is the Founder and Managing Director of impactECI, a boutique consultancy specializing in energy, climate, and infrastructure strategy. With nearly 20 years of experience spanning global energy markets, Peter is recognized for delivering innovative solutions that balance decarbonization, cost efficiency, and reliability. His career includes leading energy and utilities projects for hyperscale data center developers, initiating and contracting 4 GW of energy infrastructure at Amazon Web Services, and advising utilities, private equity, and technology firms on capital strategy, decarbonization, and infrastructure modernization. Peter’s expertise covers advanced energy modeling, regulatory navigation, and the integration of renewables and storage into mission-critical operations. He holds an M.S. in Financial Mathematics from the University of Chicago and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and is a licensed Professional Engineer in California.
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