ABB has announced a landmark collaboration with NVIDIA to accelerate the development of gigawatt-scale, next-generation AI data centres, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of digital infrastructure. This partnership aims to transform how large-scale data centres are powered, managed, and optimised to meet the immense demands of artificial intelligence (AI) workloads.
Powering the next wave of AI infrastructure
The rise of generative AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing (HPC) has triggered unprecedented growth in the global data centre market. According to Dell’Oro Group, global data centre demand is projected to surge from 80 GW in 2024 to around 220 GW by 2030, with AI workloads accounting for nearly 70% of that growth. To support this surge, power delivery systems must evolve beyond traditional designs.
Through this collaboration, ABB and NVIDIA will focus on the research and development of 800 VDC power architectures designed for 1 megawatt (MW) server racks, an innovation that could redefine energy efficiency and scalability in next-generation data centres. Delivering such high levels of power efficiently will require transformative advances in power distribution technologies, solid-state electronics, and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems.
“ABB is leading the development of the key new power distribution technologies that will create the next generation of data centres,” said Giampiero Frisio, President, ABB Electrification. “We have been early investors in UPS, DC, and solid-state technologies that will enable data centres to stay ahead of AI’s growing power demands. This collaboration supporting the development of 800 VDC architectures for future data centres is one of the many ways we are engaging with the data centre community to serve the needs of this dynamic market.”
800V DC power architecture: the future of data centre efficiency
Traditional alternating current (AC) systems are becoming increasingly inefficient at scale, particularly in environments where AI servers require continuous, high-density power delivery. The shift towards direct current (DC) power distribution at higher voltages, such as the 800 VDC architecture being advanced by ABB and NVIDIA, offers the potential for major improvements in both energy efficiency and system simplicity.
By combining medium voltage (MV) UPS systems with solid-state power electronics, this architecture will enable direct DC power distribution to server rooms, reducing conversion losses and streamlining infrastructure. Such innovations are essential for AI-driven workloads, which place immense pressure on both power capacity and cooling systems.
“As AI demands continue to grow around the world, data centres require new approaches to power distribution that improve efficiency and simplify designs,” said Dion Harris, Senior Director, HPC, Cloud and AI Infrastructure, NVIDIA. “Through our collaboration, NVIDIA and ABB are supporting the industry in advancing toward 800-volt architectures that will enable the high-density AI infrastructure needed to fuel the next generation of AI.”
ABB’s expanding role in the data centre ecosystem
ABB’s portfolio for the data centre industry spans intelligent power distribution, digital monitoring, energy optimisation, and backup systems that ensure operational resilience. Around 40% of ABB’s electrification research is now focused on next-generation data centre requirements, including electrical architectures, DC protection devices, and advanced cooling technologies critical to AI infrastructure.
Two of ABB’s recent innovations are particularly noteworthy:
- ABB HiPerGuard – The world’s first solid-state medium voltage UPS, designed to enhance both power density and energy efficiency for AI data centres. HiPerGuard delivers fast, seamless transitions during power events while maintaining high uptime and performance in compact footprints.
- ABB SACE Infinitus – The first IEC-certified solid-state circuit breaker, enabling the speed, safety, and control necessary to make DC distribution practical at scale.
These technologies demonstrate ABB’s commitment to advancing sustainable, high-performance digital infrastructure capable of supporting the exponential growth of AI and cloud computing.
Meeting global AI demand with scalable, sustainable solutions
The partnership between ABB and NVIDIA underscores the urgent need for scalable power architectures that balance performance, reliability, and sustainability. As AI data centres transition to multi-megawatt and even gigawatt capacities, innovations in power conversion efficiency, thermal management, and grid integration will become critical.
By integrating NVIDIA’s AI and accelerated computing expertise with ABB’s power technology leadership, the collaboration aims to deliver AI-ready, energy-optimised data centre solutions that not only support today’s computational demands but also lay the groundwork for future AI breakthroughs.
As digital infrastructure scales to meet the next decade of AI-driven innovation, the partnership between ABB and NVIDIA represents a decisive step forward in building next-generation data centres capable of handling massive AI workloads efficiently and sustainably.
With a focus on 800V DC power systems, solid-state electronics, and intelligent power distribution, ABB and NVIDIA are redefining the standards for AI data centre design, delivering solutions that will shape the backbone of the digital economy for years to come.
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