Overview of the Infinitus Portfolio

ABB has officially unveiled Infinitus, an industry-first source-to-rack direct current (DC) portfolio engineered specifically to address the escalating power demands of artificial intelligence data centers. Announced on September 23, 2026, the portfolio represents a paradigm shift in data center energy infrastructure. By utilizing an 800 VDC architecture, Infinitus eliminates redundant conversion stages inherent in traditional alternating current (AC) systems. This architectural flexibility is designed to significantly improve energy efficiency, reduce the physical footprint of power infrastructure, and ultimately increase the available computing capacity within modern facilities.

Technical Architecture and Core Innovations

At the core of the Infinitus portfolio is ABB’s breakthrough solid-state transformer technology, which enables facilities to operate with a smaller footprint and heightened energy efficiency. ABB leverages its unique position as the only major electrification supplier with both the world's first fully IEC-certified solid-state circuit breaker and an industry-first static medium-voltage UPS in production. The comprehensive DC portfolio comprises five critical building blocks:

  • Medium Voltage Powertrains: Delivering stable, resilient power from the grid or on-site generation.
  • DC Sources and Power Quality: Converting AC to DC, thereby removing conversion steps from the white space.
  • DC Power Distribution: Ensuring safe and reliable power delivery to enable higher power density.
  • DC Power Protection: Safeguarding operators, AI servers, and hardware from DC overcurrents.
  • Cooling Optimization: Reducing energy consumption across grey and white space using DC-connected variable speed drives and motors.

Market Context and the AI Power Surge

The transition to DC architectures is being driven by the unprecedented power requirements of next-generation AI hardware. While current racks draw almost 200 kW, next-generation AI chips are expected to demand 1 MW per rack and beyond. This massive leap necessitates a fundamental shift to DC architectures capable of supporting extreme performance while driving energy efficiency. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global data center electricity demand is projected to more than double by 2030. Aligning with this surge, ABB estimates that approximately 25% to 40% of new data center capacity installed in 2030 will utilize DC distribution.

Economic and Efficiency Implications

The economic rationale for adopting 800 VDC distribution is substantial. By cutting the heat losses associated with conventional AC systems, DC distribution offers a more compact footprint and eliminates redundant conversion steps. A recent report by BCG and ABB calculated that DC distribution yields energy efficiency gains of more than 5%. For a 500 MW data center, this 5% efficiency gain translates to 25 MW of additional power available for revenue-generating IT loads, potentially generating over US $300 million in additional annual revenue. Furthermore, the energy savings from a 5% efficiency gain in a 500 MW campus over one year would be equivalent to powering Washington D.C. for almost a full week.

Strategic Partnerships and Industry Expansion

The launch of Infinitus extends ABB's ongoing collaboration with NVIDIA, initially announced in October 2025, to develop 800 VDC power architectures for gigawatt-scale AI facilities. Giampiero Frisio, President of ABB’s Electrification business area, emphasized that ABB is working closely with chipmakers, hyperscale customers, and industry bodies to set the standards for high-efficiency DC roll-outs. Beyond AI data centers, ABB expects the Infinitus portfolio to drive similar energy efficiency benefits across other energy-intensive sectors, including large-scale manufacturing, industrial buildings, renewables, and marine operations.

Future Outlook and Deployment Timeline

ABB’s approach ensures that each deployment is optimized for maximum efficiency and reliability through tailored partnership models. The Infinitus portfolio is designed to complement traditional AC systems, providing DC flexibility for both DC-native and hybrid AC/DC architectures. Looking ahead, ABB plans to produce a number of main components within the next twelve months. Consequently, the first DC-native facilities utilizing the complete Infinitus portfolio are expected to be installed and operational within two to three years. Backed by more than 25 years of DC experience and over 700 patents, ABB is positioned to lead the electrification transition for the AI era.