ABB has introduced Infinitus, a new direct-current power portfolio designed to address the rapidly increasing electricity requirements of AI data centers. Announced on September 21, 2026, the portfolio combines power conversion, distribution, protection and cooling technologies into an integrated architecture designed to deliver power more efficiently from the electrical source to high-density computing racks.

800 VDC Architecture for AI Infrastructure

AI computing is creating significantly higher power requirements for individual server racks. ABB says next-generation AI chips could require around 1 MW or more per rack, compared with almost 200 kW for today’s systems.

Infinitus is designed around an 800 VDC architecture. By reducing the number of AC-to-DC conversion stages, the architecture can reduce conversion losses and help limit the physical footprint of electrical infrastructure.

This approach is particularly relevant to large-scale AI facilities where power availability, equipment space and energy efficiency are becoming major engineering considerations.

Five Building Blocks for Direct-Current Power

ABB’s Infinitus portfolio brings several technologies together into a source-to-rack architecture.

The five major building blocks include:

• Medium Voltage Powertrains for stable power from the grid or onsite generation
• DC Sources and Power Quality for efficient AC-to-DC conversion
• DC Power Distribution for high-density power delivery
• DC Power Protection for protecting equipment and personnel
• Cooling Optimization using DC-connected drives and motors

At the center of the architecture is ABB’s solid-state transformer, which is designed to convert medium-voltage AC directly to 800 VDC while reducing conversion stages and infrastructure requirements.

Combining Power and Automation Technologies

The Infinitus launch is also significant from an industrial automation perspective.

Modern data centers increasingly resemble large industrial facilities, with sophisticated electrical distribution, cooling systems, energy storage, monitoring platforms and automated control systems operating together.

ABB’s architecture brings electrical equipment and digital control closer together, creating opportunities for coordinated management of power quality, cooling, energy consumption and equipment protection.

Technologies such as variable-speed drives and intelligent controls can optimize cooling equipment according to the actual thermal requirements of high-density computing systems.

Beyond Data Centers

Although AI data centers are the primary target, ABB expects the technology to have applications across other energy-intensive industries.

Potential applications include manufacturing facilities, renewable energy systems, marine operations, energy storage and other industrial infrastructure.

This is particularly relevant as factories adopt more electrified processes, robotics, high-performance computing and AI-based production systems.

Direct-current architectures can also simplify the connection of technologies that naturally operate on DC, including batteries, solar generation, power electronics and many digital computing systems.

ABB and NVIDIA Continue 800 VDC Development

The Infinitus launch builds on ABB’s collaboration with NVIDIA to develop 800 VDC power architectures for future AI data centers.

The companies began working together on the technology in 2025 as AI computing moved toward increasingly power-dense systems.

ABB’s broader DC portfolio also includes solid-state circuit breakers and medium-voltage UPS technologies, providing additional components for high-density power infrastructure.

Outlook for Industrial Power Infrastructure

ABB expects the first data centers using the complete Infinitus portfolio to become operational within the next two to three years, while several major components are expected to enter production during the next year.

The development illustrates a broader change in industrial electrical infrastructure. As AI, automation and electrification increase power demand, traditional AC architectures are increasingly being supplemented by DC systems.

For automation and electrical engineers, ABB Infinitus represents the convergence of industrial automation, power electronics, energy management, drives, protection and AI infrastructure, creating a new architecture for high-density digital and industrial operations.