Chinese Innovation Powers Data Centers with High-Voltage DC Energy
Envision Energy, a Chinese company, has introduced a new technology to supply data centers with 800-volt direct current power, marking the first commercial application of this technology. The system was installed at the Galaxy AI complex in the city of Ordos, Inner Mongolia, with the technology announced on November 2. Data centers typically receive alternating current from the power grid, while servers require direct current, necessitating multiple conversions using additional equipment. This system's solid-state transformers convert 10 kilovolts directly to 800 volts DC. High voltage allows the transmission of the same power with lower current, reducing the number of cables and devices and saving server space. Electric batteries smooth voltage fluctuations, while the Dubhe Controller AI system adapts power supply according to equipment needs. The Galaxy AI complex began operations in August 2026 and is planned to expand to 3 gigawatts capacity, accommodating up to one million AI accelerators performing complex computations for training and operating neural networks. The company expects over 80% of the complex's electricity to come from renewable sources in the future and is developing the Mission Gobi project to establish renewable-powered data centers with a total capacity of 5 gigawatts in desert regions worldwide by 2030. Envision's Vice President Kevin Huang described the technology as a significant step from concept to practical application.
