ABB’s new direct current portfolio aims to rewire AI data center energy infrastructure

ABB has launched Infinitus, a portfolio of direct current (DC) solutions developed to address the growing power demands of AI data centers. The portfolio is designed to accelerate the adoption of DC architectures, helping data centers improve energy efficiency, reduce power infrastructure footprint and increase available computing capacity. ABB expects the transition to DC systems to extend to other energy-intensive industries.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that global data center electricity demand will more than double by 2030, while ABB estimates that DC distribution could account for approximately 25–40% of new capacity installed that year. With next-generation AI chips expected to consume 1 MW or more per rack, compared with nearly 200 kW today, data centers will increasingly require DC architectures that can support higher performance while improving energy efficiency. Using 800 VDC distribution can create a more compact infrastructure by eliminating redundant conversion stages and reducing heat losses associated with conventional alternating current (AC) systems. A recent BCG and ABB report found that DC distribution can deliver energy efficiency gains of more than 5% while increasing space available for computing racks. For a 500 MW data center, a 5% efficiency improvement could provide an additional 25 MW for revenue-generating IT loads, potentially generating more than US$300 million in additional annual revenue. Across a 500 MW data center campus, the same 5% efficiency gain would produce annual energy savings equivalent to powering Washington, D.C., for almost a full week.

Giampiero Frisio, President of ABB’s Electrification business area, said: “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 roll-out of high-efficiency DC architectures. 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 such as large scale manufacturing, renewables and marine operations.”

Infinitus is the industry’s first integrated DC portfolio spanning from power source to rack. At its core is ABB’s Infinitus solid-state transformer technology, which enables data centers to operate with a smaller infrastructure footprint and greater energy efficiency. ABB is also the only major electrification supplier offering both the world’s first fully IEC-certified solid-state circuit breaker and an industry-first static medium-voltage UPS in production, providing a broad portfolio of technologies for DC power infrastructure.

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

1. Medium Voltage Powertrains deliver stable resilient power from the grid or on-site generation;
2. DC Sources and Power Quality converts AC to DC removing conversion from white space;
3. DC Power Distribution delivers power safely and reliably, enabling higher power density in a smaller footprint;
4. DC Power Protection provides protection for operators, AI servers and hardware from DC overcurrents;
5. Cooling Optimization reduces energy consumption across grey and white space with DC connected variable speed drives and motors.

ABB works closely with customers to develop solutions tailored to their power requirements, facility layouts and energy mixes. This collaborative approach helps optimize each deployment for efficiency and reliability. The Infinitus portfolio complements conventional AC systems with flexible DC capabilities, supporting a range of power architectures while enhancing efficiency, reliability and scalability for AI-era data centers.

For next-generation data centers, the integrated architecture is designed to deliver the high-density, efficient power supply required by future AI chips. With several key components expected to enter production over the next 12 months, the first DC-native facilities using the full Infinitus portfolio are expected to be installed and operational within two to three years.

The portfolio launch builds on ABB’s ongoing collaboration with NVIDIA, first announced in October 2025, to develop 800 VDC power architectures for gigawatt-scale AI facilities. ABB brings more than 25 years of experience in DC technology, along with more than 700 patents covering areas including renewable energy, power generation, energy storage, motors and drives.