VivoPower Taps SpaceX Battery Expert to Bolster AI Data Center Power Strategy
Event summary
- VivoPower appointed Porter Harris, former SpaceX lead battery engineer, to its Advisory Council on June 2, 2026.
- Harris led the development of battery systems for Falcon 9, Cargo Dragon, and Crew Dragon spacecraft.
- VivoPower operates a 41.5MW AI data center in Norway and has 40MW under development, with a 300MW pipeline in Finland.
- Harris brings 22 patents in high-voltage energy and lithium-ion battery design to VivoPower's AI infrastructure strategy.
The big picture
VivoPower's appointment of a SpaceX veteran underscores the critical role of power and battery storage in the AI data center race. As sovereign nations prioritize control over their AI infrastructure, the integration of behind-the-meter energy storage and thermal management becomes a key differentiator. VivoPower's focus on operational excellence signals its long-term commitment to bridging the gap between energy assets and AI ambitions.
What we're watching
- Technical Integration
- How Harris's aerospace-grade battery expertise will translate to VivoPower's data center power systems.
- Competitive Advantage
- Whether VivoPower can sustain its lead in sovereign AI data center infrastructure with this strategic hire.
- Scalability
- The pace at which VivoPower can scale its AI data center campuses across the Nordics, Middle East, and Western Europe.