TAR aims to build off-grid power for data centers in just six months

An Austin startup called TAR says it can build power systems for data centers in under six months, without connecting to the electric grid. The company, whose name stands for "transformative American resources," just raised $120 million, with $100 million coming from Spark Capital. Its approach relies mainly on solar power and battery storage rather than the gas generators many data center projects use.

TAR builds its own modular blocks of solar panels, batteries, and power equipment, which lets it skip the years-long wait many projects face to connect to the grid. The company handles everything from picking the site to construction and long-term upkeep. Its first project is with an unnamed large customer in West Texas, where it's also finishing a manufacturing plant this month. TAR chose the region for its sunshine, open land, and energy workforce. The company has 40 employees now and plans to hire 100 more.

TAR says it's deliberately overbuilding solar and battery capacity, with some gas backup for emergencies, to keep power reliable without leaning on fossil fuels the way competitors do. This costs more upfront and requires more land, but the founders argue it avoids the price swings and fuel costs tied to gas. The company also plans to use robotics to speed up construction and sources most of its equipment domestically to avoid supply delays. This story is about power for data centers, not home energy systems, but it points to how quickly clean-energy technology like solar and battery storage is being deployed at large scale.