In a data center, uptime is the asset, and the incident log points at batteries and backup power.
Uptime is the product, and the failure log points at the equipment behind it.
A public register of energy and grid incidents counts 8 data center fires or power failures in 2024, 20 in 2025 and 19 in 2026.
Of 93 incidents since 2010, 47 came in 2024 or later. The U.S. accounts for 33.
Fires and thermal events make up 52 of the 93, and 18 of those were major.
Where a component was named, it was usually a UPS or battery room (22) or a backup generator (15). Most reports, 53, named no part.
Those two systems cover 37 of the 40 incidents that named a component (derived; assumes the categories do not overlap).
For an owner or lender, uptime is what a tenant pays for. The sample is too small to price a risk premium, but it is large enough to put batteries and backup generators on the diligence list. Ask for battery chemistry, fire suppression design and generator test history, and read the tenant's remedies for an outage before relying on contracted rent.
Key Takeaways
- In a data center, uptime is the asset, and the incident log points at batteries and backup power.
- DCD's headline says incidents doubled since 2024; the counts imply roughly 2.4x from 8 to 19 (derived), on a very small base
- The register compiles public reports, so rising counts can reflect more facilities or more reporting, not only more failures
- DCD does not discuss causes or insurance
Data Center Dynamics, Number of data center fires and power failures has doubled since 2024, Oct. 12, 2026 (citing the Energy Incident Register)
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