Nlevel Rethinks Power: What If Energy Worked Like the Internet?
In my line of work, I come across a lot of interesting technologies—some evolutionary, others so revolutionary they challenge the status quo. Real-Time Energy Routing (RER) is one of the latter. Data centers are the invisible engines of the digital world, powering everything from cloud services to AI. Yet, their energy needs continue to rise, consuming around 1-1.5% of global electricity and relying on centralized, inefficient power grids and backup systems. At some point, this insatiable power demand will become a showstopper. What if we could rewrite the rules of energy distribution for data centers?
One ex-Tesla electrical engineer thinks it can be done. His company, Nlevel.de, has developed RER, a concept that radically reimagines how energy flows through data centers. Instead of treating electricity as a static commodity, RER proposes an energy internet, where power is dynamically routed and modular, just like how data packets flow over a network.
The BIG Idea: Energy as a Network, Not a Lake
Just as the internet replaced local traditional phone systems with a global, open network, RER replaces rigid power grids with a modular, software-defined energy architecture. At its core, RER introduces Energy Routers (RERM), small, intelligent modules that dynamically route electricity, much like how routers manage data traffic. These modules enable an open, interoperable energy network where electricity flows in parallel, eliminating single points of failure and inefficiencies.
Why This is Revolutionary
Traditional data centers rely on centralized Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems and diesel generators for backup. RER turns every rack into a node in a self-healing energy network. Imagine a data center where energy is as flexible and scalable as cloud computing—where solar panels, batteries, and grid power seamlessly integrate without conversion losses or mechanical switches.
Key RER Components:
- Modularity: RER modules scale from low to high voltage, accommodating a mix of old and new batteries, grids, and renewable sources.
- Software Control: Energy flows are managed in real time, optimizing efficiency and resilience.
- Open Protocol (RERP): An open standard for energy transmission, ensuring compatibility across diverse energy sources and systems.
How it Works: Decentralized Energy Routing
RER’s architecture is built on the principle of decentralization. Instead of relying on a single, centralized power source, RER distributes energy management across a network of RER Modules (RERM). Each module acts as an intelligent node, capable of routing energy dynamically based on real-time demand and supply conditions. This modular approach allows datacenters to integrate a variety of energy sources—such as solar panels, batteries, and the traditional grid—directly into their infrastructure.
This diagram illustrates how RERM modules connect in parallel, forming a scalable and redundant energy network. Each block represents a module that can route energy bidirectionally, enabling seamless integration of multiple power sources and loads. With the ability to scale by adding more modules.
Dynamic Energy Flow
Each RERM module is equipped with advanced power electronics that enable bidirectional energy flow. This means energy can be drawn from or supplied to any connected source, whether it's a battery, a solar panel, or the grid. For example, during peak solar production, excess energy can be routed to batteries for storage or directly to server racks. Conversely, during high demand or grid outages, stored energy can be seamlessly redirected to where it's needed most. This creates a self-balancing energy network that adapts to changing conditions without manual intervention.
Storage Agnostic
One of RER’s standout features is its storage-agnostic design. The system can work with any type of battery technology — lithium-ion, flow batteries, or even emerging storage solutions — without requiring significant reconfiguration. This flexibility ensures that datacenters can leverage the latest advancements in energy storage as they become available, future-proofing their infrastructure.
Software-Driven Control
At the heart of RER is a software-defined control system that continuously monitors and optimizes energy flows. This system uses algorithms to predict demand, manage load balancing, and ensure resilience. By eliminating the need for mechanical switches and centralized busbars, RER reduces points of failure and enhances the overall reliability of the energy network. The software can also prioritize renewable energy sources, further reducing the carbon footprint of data centers.
Scalability and redundancy
RER’s modular design allows for easy scalability. Data centers can start with a small number of RERM modules and expand as needed, adding more modules to accommodate growth or integrate new energy sources. Additionally, the decentralized nature of the system provides built-in redundancy. If one module fails, energy can be automatically rerouted through other modules, ensuring uninterrupted power supply.
Why this Matters for Data Centers (and Potentially Beyond)
RER’s ability to directly integrate renewable energy sources — like solar and batteries — without the need for energy conversion is a game-changer for sustainability. By eliminating waste and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, RER could significantly lower the carbon footprint of data centers, aligning them with global climate goals. Beyond sustainability, the system’s design ensures inherent resilience. With no mechanical switches or central busbars, energy flows are managed in real time, creating a self-healing network that minimizes downtime. This resilience is especially critical for modern data centers supporting high-demand applications like AI and machine learning, where uninterrupted power is non-negotiable.
What truly sets RER apart is its future-proof modularity. Compatible with the Open Compute Project (OCP), RER can adapt to evolving technologies, from advanced battery chemistries to higher voltage systems, without requiring costly infrastructure overhauls. By reducing the need for copper cabling, mechanical switches, and large-scale infrastructure, RER not only lowers capital and operational costs but also translates efficiency gains into long-term energy savings. This makes it a scalable, cost-effective solution for both today’s needs and tomorrow’s innovations.
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The Mindset Shift
The biggest challenge isn’t technological—it’s conceptual. The industry has long treated energy as a pool of resources, something to be managed rather than optimized. RER demands we think of energy as a clearly defined, programmable object — like data in a network. This shift opens up new possibilities: If data centers can operate like nodes in an energy internet, why not extend this model to smart grids, electric vehicles, or industrial facilities? The potential for RER goes far beyond data centers — it could redefine how we distribute and consume energy across all sectors.
Final Thoughts
The journey toward a decentralized energy future is already underway. Early adopters, particularly those aligned with the Open Compute Project, are piloting RER’s modular 48V/800V hybrid systems, marking the first steps toward a bold vision: data centers powered by fully decentralized, renewable energy networks. While RER is still in its early stages, its potential to transform energy systems is undeniable. As the industry continues to seek sustainable and resilient power solutions, RER stands out as a development worth watching — one that could redefine not just data centers, but the broader energy landscape.
If interested you can learn more about nlevel RER here: https://nlevel.de/
In my line of work, I come across a lot of interesting technologies—some evolutionary, others so revolutionary they challenge the status quo. Real-Time Energy Routing (RER) is one of the latter. Data centers are the invisible engines of the digital world, powering everything from cloud services to AI. Yet, their energy needs continue to rise, consuming around 1-1.5% of global electricity and relying on centralized, inefficient power grids and backup systems. At some point, this insatiable power demand will become a showstopper. What if we could rewrite the rules of energy distribution for data centers?
One ex-Tesla electrical engineer thinks it can be done. His company, Nlevel.de, has developed RER, a concept that radically reimagines how energy flows through data centers. Instead of treating electricity as a static commodity, RER proposes an energy internet, where power is dynamically routed and modular, just like how data packets flow over a network.
The BIG Idea: Energy as a Network, Not a Lake
Just as the internet replaced local traditional phone systems with a global, open network, RER replaces rigid power grids with a modular, software-defined energy architecture. At its core, RER introduces Energy Routers (RERM), small, intelligent modules that dynamically route electricity, much like how routers manage data traffic. These modules enable an open, interoperable energy network where electricity flows in parallel, eliminating single points of failure and inefficiencies.
Why This is Revolutionary
Traditional data centers rely on centralized Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems and diesel generators for backup. RER turns every rack into a node in a self-healing energy network. Imagine a data center where energy is as flexible and scalable as cloud computing—where solar panels, batteries, and grid power seamlessly integrate without conversion losses or mechanical switches.
Key RER Components:
- Modularity: RER modules scale from low to high voltage, accommodating a mix of old and new batteries, grids, and renewable sources.
- Software Control: Energy flows are managed in real time, optimizing efficiency and resilience.
- Open Protocol (RERP): An open standard for energy transmission, ensuring compatibility across diverse energy sources and systems.
How it Works: Decentralized Energy Routing
RER’s architecture is built on the principle of decentralization. Instead of relying on a single, centralized power source, RER distributes energy management across a network of RER Modules (RERM). Each module acts as an intelligent node, capable of routing energy dynamically based on real-time demand and supply conditions. This modular approach allows datacenters to integrate a variety of energy sources—such as solar panels, batteries, and the traditional grid—directly into their infrastructure.
This diagram illustrates how RERM modules connect in parallel, forming a scalable and redundant energy network. Each block represents a module that can route energy bidirectionally, enabling seamless integration of multiple power sources and loads. With the ability to scale by adding more modules.
Dynamic Energy Flow
Each RERM module is equipped with advanced power electronics that enable bidirectional energy flow. This means energy can be drawn from or supplied to any connected source, whether it's a battery, a solar panel, or the grid. For example, during peak solar production, excess energy can be routed to batteries for storage or directly to server racks. Conversely, during high demand or grid outages, stored energy can be seamlessly redirected to where it's needed most. This creates a self-balancing energy network that adapts to changing conditions without manual intervention.
Storage Agnostic
One of RER’s standout features is its storage-agnostic design. The system can work with any type of battery technology — lithium-ion, flow batteries, or even emerging storage solutions — without requiring significant reconfiguration. This flexibility ensures that datacenters can leverage the latest advancements in energy storage as they become available, future-proofing their infrastructure.
Software-Driven Control
At the heart of RER is a software-defined control system that continuously monitors and optimizes energy flows. This system uses algorithms to predict demand, manage load balancing, and ensure resilience. By eliminating the need for mechanical switches and centralized busbars, RER reduces points of failure and enhances the overall reliability of the energy network. The software can also prioritize renewable energy sources, further reducing the carbon footprint of data centers.
Scalability and redundancy
RER’s modular design allows for easy scalability. Data centers can start with a small number of RERM modules and expand as needed, adding more modules to accommodate growth or integrate new energy sources. Additionally, the decentralized nature of the system provides built-in redundancy. If one module fails, energy can be automatically rerouted through other modules, ensuring uninterrupted power supply.
Why this Matters for Data Centers (and Potentially Beyond)
RER’s ability to directly integrate renewable energy sources — like solar and batteries — without the need for energy conversion is a game-changer for sustainability. By eliminating waste and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, RER could significantly lower the carbon footprint of data centers, aligning them with global climate goals. Beyond sustainability, the system’s design ensures inherent resilience. With no mechanical switches or central busbars, energy flows are managed in real time, creating a self-healing network that minimizes downtime. This resilience is especially critical for modern data centers supporting high-demand applications like AI and machine learning, where uninterrupted power is non-negotiable.
What truly sets RER apart is its future-proof modularity. Compatible with the Open Compute Project (OCP), RER can adapt to evolving technologies, from advanced battery chemistries to higher voltage systems, without requiring costly infrastructure overhauls. By reducing the need for copper cabling, mechanical switches, and large-scale infrastructure, RER not only lowers capital and operational costs but also translates efficiency gains into long-term energy savings. This makes it a scalable, cost-effective solution for both today’s needs and tomorrow’s innovations.
The Mindset Shift
The biggest challenge isn’t technological—it’s conceptual. The industry has long treated energy as a pool of resources, something to be managed rather than optimized. RER demands we think of energy as a clearly defined, programmable object — like data in a network. This shift opens up new possibilities: If data centers can operate like nodes in an energy internet, why not extend this model to smart grids, electric vehicles, or industrial facilities? The potential for RER goes far beyond data centers — it could redefine how we distribute and consume energy across all sectors.
Final Thoughts
The journey toward a decentralized energy future is already underway. Early adopters, particularly those aligned with the Open Compute Project, are piloting RER’s modular 48V/800V hybrid systems, marking the first steps toward a bold vision: data centers powered by fully decentralized, renewable energy networks. While RER is still in its early stages, its potential to transform energy systems is undeniable. As the industry continues to seek sustainable and resilient power solutions, RER stands out as a development worth watching — one that could redefine not just data centers, but the broader energy landscape.
If interested you can learn more about nlevel RER here: https://nlevel.de/
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