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Grid & AI Infrastructure Forum
Aligning Grids, Data Centres & the AI Economy
12 October 2027
The Grid & AI Infrastructure Forum is a one-day executive forum bringing together grid operators, regulators, utilities, hyperscalers, data centre operators, microgrid developers and flexibility providers to deliver power for AI as valued partners. Through panels and real-world case studies, Through panels and real-world case studies, the forum explores large-load connection reform and cost sharing, microgrids, compute–power synergy and coordinated planning, from approvals to first power.
09:00 - 09:10
(10 mins)
Welcome Address by Conference Chair
09:10 - 10:00
(50mins)
[Opening Panel] Data Centres and the Grid: From Connection Requests to Long-Term Partnership
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What credible load forecasts and project maturity evidence should developers provide to grid operators
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What shared planning mechanisms reduce speculative queues and wasted network investment
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What does a balanced long-term utility–data centre partnership look like in practice
10:00 - 10:50
(50mins)
[Connection & Regulation Panel] Who Gets the Grid, and Who Pays for It? Reforming Europe's Large-Load Connections
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How should large-load queues rank project readiness, milestones, deposits and flexibility
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Who funds grid upgrades and how should cost risks be shared fairly among users
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What connection agreements can release speculative capacity and speed viable projects
Coffee Break & Networking
11:20 - 11:40
(20mins)
[Reserved for Sponsor]
11:40 - 12:30
(50mins)
[Microgrids Panel] Microgrids and the Grid: From Stopgap Power to Campus Infrastructure
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How campus microgrids are moving from bridge power while waiting for connection to permanent infrastructure that runs alongside the grid
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What Europe’s first microgrid-powered data centre in Dublin shows about scale, technology mix and the line between islanded and grid-tied operation
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How financing, permitting and low-carbon fuel pathways can make microgrids a long-term grid resource rather than a grid rival
Luncheon
14:00 - 14:40
(40mins)
[Case Study Panel] Connection in Practice: Lessons from Recent Data Centre Projects
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Which choices accelerated or delayed recent European data centre connections
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What did developers and grid operators learn from phased energisation and early-load disclosure
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How did brownfield grid assets, onsite energy or flexible arrangements change project outcomes
14:40 - 15:30
(50mins)
[Compute–Power Synergy Panel] Compute and the Grid: From Fixed Load to Dispatchable Resource
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Which AI workloads, from training and batch inference to non-critical loads, can flex and by how much without breaking service commitments
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How flexible connection agreements, onsite batteries and compute scheduling can trade limited curtailment for earlier connection and paid grid services
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What grid operators need before they can rely on data centre flexibility, from ramp-rate and ride-through rules to market products and 24/7 carbon-free matching
15:30 - 15:50
(20mins)
[Reserved for Sponsor]
15:50 - 16:40
(50mins)
[Closing Panel] From Connection Offer to First Power: Planning and Delivering the Next Gigawatt
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How earlier sharing of pipeline and load data between authorities, grid operators and developers can steer projects to sites where power can be delivered
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How anticipatory grid investment, brownfield sites and co-location with generation can shorten time to power without stranding assets
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How connection works, grid upgrades and onsite construction can run in parallel, with phased energisation and interim onsite power built into connection agreements
16:40 - 16:50
(20mins)
Chair Closing
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