ABB Launches DC Power Portfolio for AI Data Centers

The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects global data center electricity demand to more than double by 2030, and ABB estimates that between 25% and 40% of new capacity installed in 2030 could be using DC distribution. Next-generation AI chips are expected to draw 1 MW per rack and beyond, an increase from today’s almost 200 kW, requiring a shift to DC architecture that can support performance while driving energy efficiency. With 800 V DC distribution, the footprint is more compact while eliminating redundant conversion steps and cutting the heat losses of conventional AC systems.

A recent BCG / ABB report calculated that DC distribution delivers energy efficiency gains of more than 5% and increases available space for computer racks. For a 500 MW data center, a 5% efficiency gain can mean 25 MW more power for revenue-generating IT loads and more than $300 million in additional revenue per year. With 5% efficiency gains for a 500 MW data center campus, the energy savings over one year would be equivalent to powering Washington, D.C., for almost a full week.

“ABB has pioneered DC technology for more than 25 years across several segments. We are working closely with chipmakers, hyperscale customers, supply partners, and industry bodies to set the standards and the pace for the rollout of high-efficiency DC architectures,” said Giampiero Frisio, president of ABB’s electrification business division. “Infinitus is the first portfolio providing the building blocks for any data center architecture — either DC native or hybrid AC/DC — to power next-generation AI chips efficiently. This technology will bring similar energy efficiency gains to other energy-intensive industries.”

Infinitus is the industry’s first integrated source-to-rack DC portfolio. At its core is ABB’s Infinitus solid-state transformer technology, enabling sites to operate with a smaller footprint and greater energy efficiency. ABB is the only major electrification supplier with both the world’s first fully solid-state circuit breaker certified by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and an industry-first static medium-voltage uninterruptable power supply in production, the press release said.

ABB’s Infinitus DC portfolio includes five key building blocks:

• Medium-voltage powertrains deliver stable resilient power from the grid or on-site generation;

• DC sources and power quality convert AC to DC, removing conversion from white space;

• DC power distribution delivers power safely and reliably, enabling higher power density in a smaller footprint;

• DC power protection provides protection for operators, AI servers, and hardware from DC overcurrents;

• Cooling optimization reduces energy consumption across grey and white space with DC- connected variable-speed drives and motors.

ABB works with customers to design solutions tailored to their specific power demands, facility layouts, and energy mix. This partnership approach ensures each deployment is optimized for maximum efficiency and reliability. The Infinitus portfolio complements traditional AC systems with DC flexibility that supports customers across all power architectures while also enabling unprecedented efficiency, reliability, and scalability for AI-era data centers, the press release said.

For next-generation data centers, this integrated architecture enables the high-density, high-efficiency power delivery that future AI chips demand. With a number of main components produced in the next twelve months, the first DC-native facilities using the complete Infinitus portfolio are expected to be installed and operational within two to three years.