ABB, BCG Report: DC Power to Anchor AI Data Center Architecture
Image
Zurich – September 9, 2026 -- ABB and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) have released a joint report concluding that 800-volt direct current (VDC) distribution is emerging as the defining architecture for next-generation artificial intelligence infrastructure, as surging AI compute demand pushes conventional electrical systems past their practical limits.
AI data centers drive urgent shift toward DC power
The report, titled 'The Strategic Case for Hybrid AC/DC Power: Shaping the Transition to the Next Electrical Architecture,' identifies AI data centers as the most immediate driver of DC adoption. Rising power-density requirements from AI workloads are forcing operators to seek architectures that maximize compute capacity within constrained grid connections while improving energy efficiency.