EPRI Launches Flex MOSAIC Framework to Standardize Data Center Grid Flexibility
April 23, 2026
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), a US-based non-profit, has unveiled a new initiative aimed at creating a standardized classification framework for large electric loads, specifically targeting the data center industry’s growing need for faster grid connections. Known as Flex MOSAIC, the framework is being developed under EPRI’s existing DCFlex initiative and represents a significant step toward addressing one of the most pressing bottlenecks in the AI and data center expansion: the time it takes to secure reliable power.
Why this matters now is clear: as demand from artificial intelligence and hyperscale computing surges at an unprecedented pace, the traditional approach of simply building more generation and transmission capacity is no longer sufficient. EPRI president and CEO Arshad Mansoor described flexibility as “the third leg of the speed-to-power stool, alongside generation and transmission,” emphasizing that without a common language for defining and trusting load flexibility, progress will remain slow. The Flex MOSAIC framework is designed to fill that gap by establishing a voluntary, shared definition of flexibility based on the magnitude, timing, duration, and frequency of a large load’s response.
The initiative has already drawn support from more than 65 utilities, system operators, regulators, hyperscalers, and technology providers. Key initial participants include Google, Meta, NVIDIA, Siemens, Constellation Energy, Southern Company, Exelon, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, the California ISO, and Arizona Public Service. NVIDIA’s vice president of AI Infrastructure, Vladimir Troy, noted that “by clearly defining flexibility, the Flex MOSAIC framework gives all parties the confidence needed to accelerate deployment and meet the growing needs of AI.”
EPRI launched its broader DCFlex initiative in October 2024, which brought together some of the sector’s most prominent players to explore how data centers can support the electric grid, enable better asset utilization, and contribute to the clean energy transition. The new Flex MOSAIC framework builds directly on that work by focusing on practical performance characteristics—such as how quickly a load can respond, how long an adjustment can last, and how much power can be reduced or shifted—to create a common understanding across the industry.
The potential impact of this framework extends beyond individual projects. By shortening interconnection timelines and improving grid planning processes, Flex MOSAIC could accelerate time-to-power for data centers without compromising affordability or reliability. For an industry where every month of delay can translate into millions in lost revenue and competitive advantage, this kind of standardization is not just helpful—it is increasingly seen as essential. EPRI has positioned the framework as a voluntary tool, but with such broad industry backing, it may quickly become the de facto standard for how large loads define and deliver flexibility to the grid.
Source: datacenterdynamics
