Next-Gen Data Centers
Power + Security Workshop
Advancing Energy, Security, and Innovation
for the Nation’s AI Infrastructure
February 17 – 19, 2026
Thursday, February 19th will consist of optional tours.
The Next-Generation Data Center (NGDC) Power and Security Workshop will bring together leaders from government, industry, and research to address one of the most urgent challenges in energy: how to power, secure, and integrate the nation’s rapidly expanding AI data infrastructure. As artificial intelligence accelerates across every sector, the energy and security implications are profound. By 2030, data centers could represent nearly one-tenth of U.S. electricity demand, reshaping how power is generated, distributed, and protected.
The workshop, hosted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), will explore the intersection of power architecture, grid reliability, critical material supply chains and cybersecurity — pillars that will define next-generation data center performance. It will convene experts from the Department of Energy, national laboratories, utilities, equipment and service providers, and technology companies to align national priorities with technical innovation.
Workshop Objectives:
- Define the research and technology pathways needed to create high-efficiency, resilient, and secure data centers integrated into the U.S. power system.
- Establish an interdisciplinary framework connecting power electronics and grid operations with cyber-informed engineering.
- Identify opportunities for partnerships that accelerate the transition of laboratory innovations to industry and infrastructure-scale deployment.
- Inform the emerging ORNL Next-Generation Data Center Institute, positioning the laboratory as a national hub for applied R&D in energy-aware, cyber-secure computing infrastructure.
Technical Tracks:
- Power System Architecture – Exploring DC and hybrid architectures, advanced power electronics, and distributed energy integration to support high-density AI workloads with improved reliability and reduced losses.
- Grid Integration and Load Management – Modeling dynamic interactions between data centers and regional grids, enhancing grid flexibility and resilience.
- Critical Materials and Supply Chain
- Security – Embedding security in system design through cyber-informed engineering framework to protect critical infrastructure from emerging threats.
Together, these discussions will chart a collaborative roadmap for ensuring that America’s AI-driven digital future is powered by a secure and resilient energy foundation.