Emerald AI and NVIDIA Unveil Power-Flexible AI Factory in Virginia

In a press release, a coalition of companies including Emerald AI, NVIDIA, Digital Realty, EPRI, and PJM announced the Aurora AI Factory in Manassas, Virginia — the world’s first power-flexible AI facility. Scheduled to open in the first half of 2026, the 96MW data center will serve as a reference design for power-flexible AI infrastructure capable of unlocking up to 100 GW of existing U.S. grid capacity.

The Aurora AI Factory integrates Emerald AI’s GridLink and Conductor systems with NVIDIA’s AI software stack, including NVIDIA AI Enterprise components and Mission Control. This setup enables real-time coordination between grid conditions and data center operations, allowing workloads to adapt dynamically to power availability while maintaining AI performance.

The site will participate in the EPRI DCFlex Initiative to test its ability to reduce power consumption during simulated grid stress events, such as demand spikes or drops in renewable generation. The project aims to demonstrate that AI data centers can act as flexible grid assets, supporting both power reliability and the rapid growth of AI computing.

Digital Realty is constructing the facility, which will also function as a live innovation hub for testing new methods of integrating compute performance with grid resiliency. Emerald AI plans to replicate similar demonstrations internationally, including in the United Kingdom with National Grid and NVIDIA.