As global energy demand rises, especially from AI-driven data centers, managing electricity supply during peak hours has become a critical issue. GridBeyond, a Dublin-based startup, is working to address this challenge by combining software and battery systems to stabilize power grids and improve efficiency.
“The problem on the grid is a peak problem. Most of the time you’re okay, you have plenty of power. But in those peak hours you might not have enough,” said Michael Phelan, co-founder and CEO of GridBeyond. He explained that energy storage systems and flexible industrial loads can help balance supply and demand, making it easier to support large-scale infrastructure like hyperscale data centers that require massive electricity.
GridBeyond develops hardware and software that connect different energy sources into virtual power plants. The company currently manages around 1 gigawatt of solar, wind, battery and hydropower capacity, along with “several gigawatts” of demand across commercial and industrial users. To expand further, it raised €12 million ($13.8 million) in an equity round led by Samsung Ventures, with participation from investors including ABB, Act Venture Capital, Alantra’s Energy Transition Fund, Constellation Technology Ventures, EDP, Energy Impact Partners, Enterprise Ireland, Klima, Mirova and Yokogawa. Its systems are deployed across Australia, Ireland, Japan, the U.K., and the United States.
The company’s approach builds on its early experience in Ireland, where balancing renewable energy on an island grid created unique challenges. Today, it also manages large battery installations, including a 200-megawatt system in California, which helps respond quickly to demand changes. Batteries can react faster than traditional power plants and enable energy trading through rapid buy-and-sell cycles. They also help stabilise data center power usage, reducing grid fluctuations. “you know the thing that collapsed the Spanish grid, which is not what people want,” Phelan said. By integrating batteries or connecting to virtual power plants, data centers can more easily secure grid access and maintain stable operations.
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