Google co-founds alliance to build power-flexible AI data centers

On 16 September 2026, Google, Emerald AI, and Nvidia announced the launch of the AI Energy Management Alliance (AEMA). The coalition aims to transform artificial intelligence data centers into flexible grid assets that adjust electricity consumption during periods of peak stress.

The founding members are joined by 18 launch partners, including semiconductor and AI developers Anthropic and Analog Devices, alongside power utilities and energy producers such as National Grid, AES, RWE, Constellation, and NRG. Other participants include Calibrant Energy, Camus, ClearPath, Encoord, Fluence, Generate Capital, GridUnity, PassKey, Splight, Verrus, and Voltus.

AEMA is designed to accelerate grid interconnections across the United States, where power availability has become the primary bottleneck for data center expansion. The group plans to advocate for demand management technologies, including colocated generation, energy storage, and computational load flexibility, to maximize current grid capacity.

Frank Lacey, an energy industry executive, will serve as Executive Director of the alliance. The initiative represents an evolution of the Advanced Energy Management Alliance, which was established in 2014.