Load Characteristics of Emerging Bulk Loads – Electrolysers and Data Centres in the Renewable Energy Era

The global transition toward renewable energy is not only reshaping the way electricity is generated but is also redefining the nature and behaviour of electrical loads. Traditionally, load patterns were relatively stable and predictable, largely governed by residential, commercial, and industrial demand profiles. However, with the increasing deployment of large-scale renewable energy systems, a new class of bulk electrical loads is emerging, specifically data centres driven by cloud computing and artificial intelligence applications and electrolysers for green hydrogen production. These new loads are not only large in magnitude but are also dynamic, nonlinear, and sensitive to grid conditions, presenting unique challenges to system planners.