Armenia is preparing to launch a large-scale data center for artificial intelligence, Firebird AI, which is expected to become one of the largest in the world. The project envisions the deployment of tens of thousands of graphics processors and will require hundreds of megawatts of electricity, already raising questions about the capabilities of the country's power system.
The authorities say the problem is not a lack of resources, but the speed of commissioning new capacity. According to the Minister of High-Tech Industry, Armenia previously even had excess generation, but now the development of digital infrastructure is beginning to outpace the pace of energy construction. As a result, the government is accelerating the review of investment projects in the energy sector that had previously been postponed due to the absence of a deficit.
One of the key areas is the development of energy storage systems. They make it possible to store excess generation, especially from solar plants, and provide stable power supply for critical infrastructure. This is important for data centers, where any interruptions are unacceptable. The project's investor is also considering its own energy storage solutions to improve reliability.
According to preliminary estimates, Firebird AI's consumption could amount to about 125 MW at the first stage and grow to 470 MW later. This is comparable to the load of a major industrial region and effectively means transforming the country's entire power system to meet the needs of a high-tech cluster.