Sapphire, Anax Deploy Pipeline-Based Power System for Data Centers
Sapphire Technologies and Anax Power are deploying a system that converts natural gas pipeline pressure into emission-free power and cooling for distributed data centers, targeting growing AI-driven energy demand.
(P&GJ) — Sapphire Technologies has partnered with Anax Power to deploy a system that converts natural gas pipeline pressure into electricity and cooling for distributed data centers, targeting growing demand from AI and high-performance computing.
Under the agreement, Sapphire will supply its FreeSpin® in-line turboexpander, which Anax will integrate into a co-located data center facility. The system is designed to capture excess pressure from gas pipelines and convert it into usable energy without combustion.
Anax will build, own and operate the project, with commissioning expected later this year.
The approach places modular data centers alongside existing pipeline infrastructure, avoiding the need for new transmission buildouts while tapping into existing energy flows.
By recovering pressure energy that would otherwise be lost, the system generates electricity while simultaneously producing cooling capacity to manage server heat loads.
“Data centers face continued challenges with power availability and thermal management,” said Freddie Sarhan, CEO of Sapphire Technologies. “This project demonstrates how pressure energy recovery delivers both electricity and cooling capacity in a single system, supporting data center growth through smarter infrastructure design. Turboexpanders are the right energy building block for distributed data centers, and Anax provides a repeatable template that can be deployed at scale.”
Sapphire said the integrated system can deliver up to 3 megawatts of electricity and 35 million BTU of cooling capacity per installation.
The companies said the model could be replicated across thousands of pressure-regulating stations in North America’s gas transmission network, allowing for faster deployment of distributed data center capacity.
“Pressure energy is one of the most overlooked sources of emission-free power,” said Michael Longo, CEO of Anax Power. “Our partnership with Sapphire represents a first-of-its-kind integration of turboexpander generation with data center infrastructure. By combining emission-free power and cooling, Anax is poised to quickly build a fleet of modular, distributed data centers with industry-leading PUE performance.”
Longo added, “Anax provides pipeline operators a no-risk development model – we finance, build, and operate the system – while monetizing the energy through high-value digital infrastructure services.”