Cover story


High voltage PowiGaN addresses the needs power-hungry data centres


By Power Integrations


Figure 1: 800VDC architecture for AI data centres T


he rapid adoption of generative AI, driven by power-hungry GPUs, has pushed rack-level


power demand from tens of kilowatts just a few years ago to well over 100kW today – with megawatt-per-rack designs predicted in the near future. A recent NVIDIA blog states the challenge clearly: “Delivering this level of power at


traditional low voltages, like 54VDC, is physically and economically impractical.” To overcome these limitations, the industry is converging on an 800VDC bus architecture for next- generation AI data centres – or “AI factories”, as NVIDIA now describes them. This high-voltage approach dramatically improves power delivery efficiency, reduces cable losses and simplifi es rack-level design, paving the way for scalable, cost-effective AI infrastructure.


Key reasons for 800VDC adoption • Higher power density and scalability Distributing power at 800VDC dramatically reduces current


06 October 2026 www.electronicsworld.co.uk


requirements – for example, from 8,333A at 48V to 500A at 80V for a 400kW cabinet.


• Improved energy efficiency Higher voltage reduces resistive power losses (I2R losses) during transmission, lowering wasted energy and heat generation. It also simplifi es the power path by eliminating multiple AC-to-DC and DC-to-DC conversion stages common in traditional data centres, boosting end-to-end efficiency by 5% or more.


• Reduced infrastructure costs and complexity Lower current means thinner conductors and smaller connectors, cutting copper usage by up to 45% per 1MW rack. This reduces material costs, simplifi es cable management and frees valuable rack space for additional compute resources.


• Enhanced reliability and thermal management A streamlined architecture with fewer conversion stages reduces potential failure points and lowers waste heat,


Figure 2: IBC structure using PowiGaN


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44