Data Center World POWER 2025 Proves Power Is the New Currency of the Digital Age

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SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 2, 2025--

The inaugural Data Center World POWER conference concluded this week in San Antonio, TX, marking a resounding success in uniting leaders from across the data center, energy, and infrastructure sectors. Designed to confront the most pressing challenges in digital infrastructure, the event fostered actionable dialogue on building reliable, sustainable, and scalable power solutions.

“The electrifying discussions at Data Center World POWER 2025 set a new standard for collaboration among leaders who are shaping the future of energy and digital infrastructure,” said Bill Kleyman, Executive Chair, Data Center World and CEO and Co-founder, Apolo. “This platform was intentionally designed to unite industry experts in developing actionable solutions and long-term partnerships that will define the data center landscape for decades to come.”

With its debut, Data Center World POWER firmly established itself as a must-attend forum for advancing the rapidly growing industry. The event not only elevated critical conversations but also delivered tangible strategies for navigating today’s power constraints and tomorrow’s innovations.

Data Center World POWER Key Takeaways

1. Energy Efficiency, Automation & AI-Driven Optimization: A compelling narrative centered on the new collaboration models to modernize data center development - integrating automation, AI, and advanced cooling to lower energy use - both good for the planet and the bottom line. This was further illustrated by Compass’ Chris Crosby and ERCOT’s Woody Rickerson in their keynote discussion centered around the power paradigm shift playing out in Texas as utilities and data center operators lead the charge in powering digital infrastructure to support the AI roadmap.
2. Behind-the-Meter Power Strategies & Onsite Generation: A key theme emerged around how energy has become the strategic driver of where and how data centers get built. Voltagrid’s David Bell highlighted how microgrids and behind-the-meter generation can ease grid bottlenecks, boost resilience, support sustainability goals, and give operators greater control over power reliability and operational costs.
3. Grid Modernization & Power Procurement for Hyperscalers: The rise of hyperscale demand appeared as a central focus, with industry leaders stressing the need to partner with utilities, upgrade infrastructure, and secure power contracts. As Dell Technologies Global Industries CTO & Energy Lead David Holmes noted, “we need to think about how data centers are going to be good grid citizens.” He highlighted Dell’s Project Astro initiative as a model for enabling AI workloads through grid-aware operations. Panelists agreed that more flexible load management, large-scale batteries and smarter integrations with the grid will be critical to ensure reliability and stabilize prices for all ratepayers.
4. Regulatory, Compliance & Policy Insights: A crucial theme centered on navigating environmental regulation, policy shifts, permitting challenges to advance the industry while mitigating risk. Governor Dunleavy underscored Alaska as an underexplored frontier for data centers, outlining incentive programs, land availability, and new connectivity investments intended to drive energy and infrastructure partnerships.

Beyond the dynamic keynote sessions, solution-oriented panels, and robust networking opportunities, the three-day program included the first-ever Data Center World POWER Golf Tournament and an exclusive tour of the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), where attendees gained a behind-the-scenes look at groundbreaking research in hydrogen energy, next-generation cooling technologies, and resilient power systems for future data centers.

Looking ahead, the conversation continues at Data Center World 2026, returning to Washington, D.C. April 13-16 with a focus on policy, regulation, and federal innovation. The spotlight then shifts to Dallas, Texas where the second edition of Data Center World POWER takes place September 21-23, 2026. For more information, visit www.dcwpower.com.

About Data Center World POWER

Data Center World, the global conference for data center facilities and IT professionals, has launched Data Center World POWER. It is the definitive event for decision makers and innovators from data centers charged with tackling the challenge – and opportunity – of powering data centers. It offers access to insightful keynotes, solution-driven panels, and elite executive-to-executive networking opportunities. Data Center World POWER was held September 29 - October 1 in San Antonio, TX. Data Center World POWER is produced under Data Center World and is a part of Informa PLC.

About Data Center World

Data Center World is the definitive epicenter of data center innovation where industry leaders converge to learn, network and get inspired, featuring the largest global exhibition of solutions and technologies. Serving the broad spectrum of professionals driving data center growth, from facilities and IT to power and utilities to design and construction to the investment and government communities, the event offers premier education, abundant networking, and the broadest access to best-in-class vendors. CIO Dive named Data Center World one of the top technology conferences to attend in 2024 for the second consecutive year. Additionally, for the third year in a row, Data Center World has been recognized by Trade Show Executive as one of the fastest-growing trade shows. Data Center World 2026 will be held April 20-23, in Washington, D.C. Learn more here. Data Center World global presence includes Data Center Asia and Data Center World @ NetworkX. Data Center World is produced by Informa PLC.

About AFCOM

AFCOM advances data center and IT professionals by delivering comprehensive and vendor-neutral education and peer-to-peer networking to its members and chapters around the world. Through forward-looking research, AFCOM supports thousands of IT, operations, facilities, builders/designers and vendors working in the data center and IT infrastructure industry. In serving the data center industry for more than 40 years, AFCOM has earned recognition as the market leader in educating, connecting and guiding the data center community.

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CONTACT: Suzanne Matulay

Data Center World POWER

[email protected]

KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA TEXAS

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DATA MANAGEMENT

SOURCE: Data Center World

Copyright Business Wire 2025.

PUB: 10/02/2025 02:10 PM/DISC: 10/02/2025 02:09 PM

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251002582677/en