What's Next for Onsite Energy and Data Center Power

One of the biggest growth stories of 2026 is the rise of on-site powers for data centers. The AI boom is driving huge growth in demand for electricity to support AI factories, as well as traditional cloud workloads.  But many major markets have limited availability of utility power, as electric grids are struggling to keep pace with the growth of digital infrastructure.  Today on Data Center Richness, we are talking on-site power for data centers. Our guest is Scott Yappen, a business development specialist with Wartsila, a Finnish company that has been a major player in the global power market. Over the past year, Wartsila has signed several deals to provide generation capacity for U.S.  utilities and and developers to support data center growth.  Our topics include the growth of data demand, options for onsite power, the supply of engines, and the key role of energy storage in future data center campuses. Here's an overview: 00:00 - Onsite Power, and Why it Matters 1:00 - Meet Scott Yappen of Wartsila. 5:00 - About Wartsila and Its Energy Offerings 8:00 - The Power Squeeze and the Rise of Onsite Generation 11:30 - Supply, Demand and Equipment Timelines 18:30 - Criteria for Onsite Power Development 21:00 - Bridging Power Vs Permanent Power 27:00 - The Road Ahead ------------------------------------------------------------------------ At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 NOW ON SUBSTACK! Check out the Data Center Richness Substack:  https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterpodcast.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW Wartsila Data Center Power Solutions https://www.wartsila.com/energy/engine-power-plant-solutions/flexible-baseload-power-plants/data-center-power-solutions Wartsila Chosen for Major U.S. Data Center Project  https://www.wartsila.com/media/news/29-01-2026-wartsila-chosen-for-a-major-u-s-power-plant-project-addressing-critical-energy-demand-driven-by-data-center-development-3711601 Scott Yappen on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottyappen/ Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: Why AI Data Centers Are Building Their Own Power https://youtu.be/Yx7QGNQsJaQ Why Every Data Center Pro is Talking About Power (Dan Crosby) https://youtu.be/GJiBqvUl5rU?si=PyyLwfBINXWtI8oo Why Data Centers Are Turning to Bloom Energy https://youtu.be/Z-udNWq2bAg?si=vHOizsz7AqT5M7eQ All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx