Soluna and Siemens Launch 2MW Pilot to Tackle AI Compute Power Management at Renewable Sites

Soluna and Siemens Launch 2MW Pilot to Tackle AI Compute Power Management at Renewable Sites January 9, 2026 As the demand for artificial intelligence compute surges, the data center industry faces a critical challenge: how to power energy-intensive AI workloads sustainably and reliably. A key solution being explored is the "behind-the-meter" model, where data centers are built directly adjacent to renewable energy sources. However, managing the highly variable power output of renewables alongside the fluctuating demand of GPU-driven AI computing presents a significant technical hurdle. To address this, Soluna Holdings, a computing infrastructure company specializing in renewable energy sites, has entered a strategic partnership with industrial technology giant Siemens. The companies have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to develop a 2-megawatt pilot project aimed at validating power management systems for behind-the-meter AI data centers. The pilot will be deployed at Soluna's Project Grace site in Texas. The core objective of the collaboration is to test and document the performance of integrated electrical infrastructure under real-world conditions. Siemens will equip the facility with key components including transformers, switchgear, and power converters. The project will utilize Siemens' SICAM SCADA platform for comprehensive monitoring and control, aiming to create a repeatable blueprint for future, larger-scale deployments. John Belizaire, CEO of Soluna, highlighted the project's significance, stating, "One of the biggest challenges to scaling AI technology is the amount of compute power it demands." Brian Dula, President of Electrification and Automation at Siemens Smart Infrastructure USA, added, "This pilot with Soluna allows us to test, validate, and demonstrate what’s possible when renewable energy and existing infrastructure are optimized to power AI." The initiative holds considerable implications for the future of sustainable computing. Success could pave the way for more widespread adoption of behind-the-meter data centers, helping to alleviate grid congestion and directly leverage clean energy for high-performance computing. Soluna, which originated in cryptocurrency mining, currently operates 123MW of capacity across multiple sites and reports a long-term development pipeline of up to 2.8 gigawatts, indicating the potential scale for this model. Source: datacenterdynamics