ABB, BCG Report: DC Power to Anchor Future AI Data Center Grids
Zurich – September 12, 2026 -- ABB has published a report with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) arguing that direct current (DC) technology is shifting from a niche application to a central component of industrial, commercial and digital power infrastructure, with decisions made over the next two to three years determining which market players lead the transition.
800 VDC distribution emerges as defining architecture for AI infrastructure
The report identifies AI data centers as the most immediate driver of DC adoption, finding that conventional electrical architectures are reaching practical limits as AI workloads push power density requirements higher. It concludes that 800 VDC distribution is emerging as the defining architecture for next-generation AI infrastructure, enabling operators to maximize compute capacity within constrained grid connections while improving energy efficiency.