Iman Khosravi, head of sales and tender Americas at Linxon, shares insights into the powerful joint venture between Atkins Réalis and Hitachi Energy in the DCD>Talk ‘No transition without transmission’. The venture combines Atkins Réalis' project management and engineering expertise with Hitachi Energy's cutting-edge technology and power solutions. Together, they’ve created Linxon, a company delivering innovative Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) solutions across five major sectors: power grids, data centers, battery energy storage, rail electrification, and offshore wind.
The electric revolution
As the world becomes increasingly dependent on computational power, reliable and efficient energy transmission is more critical than ever. Linxon is positioning itself as a key player in this transition by delivering sustainable power solutions, particularly for the rapidly growing data center market:
“We see data centers as three key components: the interconnecting substation, the distribution infrastructure, and the data center itself, where all the servers live. We aim to be a leader in all three areas by offering compact, efficient designs that ensure not only reliable but also sustainable power,” says Khosravi.
DCD>Talks: No transition without transmission with Iman Khosravi, Linxon
Iman Khosravi from Linxon talks with DCD's Stephen Worn about the need for power as the data center industry transitions.
Modular designs for rapid deployment
Linxon’s approach to data center design is rooted in modularity. By using standardized and optimized designs, the company ensures that data centers can be rapidly deployed without needing to start from scratch for each project. This allows for faster installation and scalability, which is vital in today’s fast-paced digital economy.
“To provide a customized edge for customers, the first stage in this process is to address potential weaknesses in the interconnection of systems. Whether the system is located in a remote desert or near a large metropolitan area, reliability is critical. The goal is to maximize uptime and minimize the need for frequent maintenance, ensuring stable, long-term performance,” says Khosravi, adding:
“We design substations not just with engineering expertise but with a deep understanding of modularity. This means they can be deployed in various network environments, whether for data storage or AI applications.”
Regulatory-compliant substation design
Linxon looks at standards across different elements like power transmission, operations, maintenance, control, support, and procurement, to ensure its substations meet regulatory standards, while also incorporating advanced digital elements:
“We design ‘unmanned stations’ that are self-sufficient and require minimal human intervention, thanks to full automation and remote monitoring capabilities. These substations are aligned with the IEC 61850 standard, which promotes automation and enhances operational efficiency, so customers don’t have to worry about staffing and maintaining these substation systems.”
Supporting sustainability and green power
Khosravi recognizes the growing importance of sustainability, especially with the integration of renewable energy sources into the grid, stating that Linxon’s modular substation and interconnect solutions are designed to facilitate the shift to greener energy while ensuring environmental efficiency:
“The shift to green energy isn’t just about integrating clean power – it’s about consuming it sustainably,” says Khosravi.
Linxon incorporates sustainable equipment and technologies, such as solar power, battery storage, green roofs, and biodegradable dielectric fluids, into its data center designs.
When it comes to substation equipment, Linxon prioritizes sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)-free solutions from Hitachi Energy whenever possible, reducing the carbon footprint of its projects. This commitment to sustainability is especially vital for data centers, as such significant power consumers.
Electrifying the future
According to Khosravi, Linxon views data centers as the “neural nodes” of modern infrastructure, essential to advancing technology and transforming societies:
“Electrifying these solutions requires an understanding of the past while preparing for the future. At Linxon, we aim to leverage our century-long expertise, combined with cutting-edge sustainable equipment and solutions, to play a major role in this transformation,” Khosravi concludes.
In a rapidly electrifying world, Linxon is poised to be a leader in providing sustainable, reliable power solutions that meet both current and future demands.
To learn more, you can listen to the whole DCD>Talk by clicking here.