In Edison’s Revenge, Data Centers Are Transitioning From AC to DC

Last week’s Nvidia GTC conference highlighted new chip architectures to power AI. But as the chips become faster and more powerful, the remainder of data center infrastructure is playing catchup. The power delivery community is responding: Announcements from Delta, Vertiv, and Eaton showcased new designs for the AI era. Complex and inefficient AC to DC power conversions are gradually being replaced by DC configurations, at least in hyperscale data centers.“While AC distribution remains deeply entrenched, advances in power electronics and the rising demands of AI infrastructure are accelerating interest in DC architectures,” says Chris Thompson, vice president of advanced technology and global microgrids at Vertiv.AC to DC Conversion ChallengesToday, nearly all data centers are designed around AC utility power. The electrical path includes multiple conversions before power reaches the compute load. Power typically enters the data center as medium-voltage AC (1kV to 35kV), is ste