Powering AI data centres without the grid

AI data centres are running into a basic constraint: the local power grid often cannot keep up. Speaking at ITW Asia 2025, Palaniappan Muthuraman, managing director of Piller Power Singapore, outlines how modular, grid‑independent power systems can bridge that gap.

Instead of waiting years for grid upgrades and new substations, operators can deploy self-contained power units that sit alongside the data centre and scale as demand grows. These systems are designed to support the high, often unpredictable loads of AI workloads, giving developers and operators a way to keep building capacity even when the public grid is delayed or constrained.