POWER


Smarter regulation inside the rack Power regulation does not stop at the chip’s edge. Modern processors use adaptive voltage scaling to adjust their operating voltage in real time, matching energy use to workload. On-board monitoring circuits track current draw and temperature, while management software tunes supply rails to keep the system within performance and reliability limits.


Engineers are also applying machine learning to power grid design at chip and board level. Predictive tools can now estimate voltage drop (also referred to as IR drop), thermal gradients and electromigration limits early in the design cycle, cutting weeks from  


The data centre as an active grid participant


A further transformation is happening at the facility level. Data centres are beginning to interact with the wider grid rather than simply drawing power from it. Grid-interactive UPS systems and large-scale battery energy storage allow operators to smooth out peaks in demand, store energy during off-peak hours and even return power to the grid when required.


This is where power electronics takes on a strategic role. Fast-acting converters and inverters can respond to grid events in milliseconds, providing voltage support or frequency regulation far faster than traditional generation assets. For engineers, that means designing converters that can  predictably, while complying with grid codes and avoiding control-loop instability.


Designing for the whole system The complexity of modern data centres


means that power electronics can no longer be designed in isolation. The best results come from treating the power train as one integrated system. That involves: Holistic modelling - Simulating the behaviour of the entire chain, from grid interface to chip, helps engineers identify weak points, transient interactions and  single-stage test.


Interoperability and modularity – Critical digital infrastructures are built over many years and rarely use equipment from a single supplier. Standardised interfaces and modular components make it easier to expand capacity and upgrade systems. Digital monitoring and control - Energy power management systems (EPMS) give engineers real-time visibility of performance and faults. When combined with predictive analytics, they can reduce unplanned  Service and lifecycle thinking - The choice of components, battery chemistry and control architecture affects long- term maintenance costs as much as initial


performance. Designing with lifecycle in mind is becoming as important as meeting the 


Challenges ahead


There is still much to solve. High-power components and advanced materials remain subject to supply constraints. Thermal management is becoming more critical as densities rise. Enabling stability across cascaded converters is a continuing challenge. And while lithium-ion batteries are proving their value in UPS and energy storage applications, safe and sustainable recycling at scale is not yet guaranteed. The longer-term question is how far integration can go. As chiplet architectures, optical interconnects and direct-liquid cooling mature, today’s distinction between facility, rack and chip may blur. Power conversion might move entirely inside the IT equipment, with only high-voltage DC delivered to each rack. That will demand new thinking on protection, safety and serviceability.


A wider view


For electronics engineers, the key is to keep looking across the boundaries. Power  or circuit board. It connects grid operators, facility designers and chip architects in one continuous system. Success depends on understanding how each layer affects the others and designing with that whole system in mind.


The data centre power train may once have been a background utility. In the AI era, it has become the foundation for innovation. Engineers who can link the grid to the chip -  how the digital world keeps running.


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NOVEMBER 2025 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS 31


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