Data center power distribution

From megawatt to gigawatt-scale AI data centers: accelerate power conversion, backup power and cooling designs with Infineon power semiconductors

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Powering AI requires meeting the increasing energy and thermal demands of modern AI workloads. As AI scales, data centers must deliver higher efficiency, lower total cost of ownership (TCO), and uncompromising reliability.

This evolution goes far beyond traditional power delivery. It includes DC microgrids for efficient distribution, solid-state transformers (SST) for medium-voltage conversion, solid-state circuit breakers (SSCB) for fast, precise protection, and highly efficient uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) to ensure continuous operation. At the same time, liquid cooling is becoming essential to manage the high heat flux of AI processors, enabling greater performance and high energy efficiency.

Infineon supports this transformation with a comprehensive offering for AI data center power distribution. The portfolio spans semiconductor technologies (Si, SiC, GaN), voltage classes, and complementary ICs, including  CoolSiC™, CoolMOS™, EasyPACK™, EiceDRIVER™;  XENSIV™; CoolSET™; PSoC™. Proven expertise across SST, SSCB, UPS, ESS, and cooling enables  end-to-end AI data center power infrastructure - from grid connection and conversion to distribution, protection, and cooling.

As global electricity demand surges—driven by AI data centers, transport electrification, growing industrial use, and rising cooling needs—traditional power grids face increasing strain. Solid-state transformers (SSTs) offer a game-changing solution, redefining how medium-voltage grids connect to modern loads. By leveraging advanced semiconductor technology, SSTs enable compact, efficient conversion and control while replacing architectures based on low-frequency transformers. In AI data centers, SSTs can directly feed DC microgrids, reducing conversion stages, improving efficiency, and enabling faster protection and control. As a global leader in power electronics, Infineon empowers energy-efficient SST designs. With a comprehensive, ready-to-use portfolio, Infineon covers power conversion, microcontrollers, security, auxiliary power supply, sensing, and communication designs.

Electro-mechanical circuit breakers were developed a 100 years ago. Now it is time for a smart, intelligent solid-state device. While conventional electro-mechanical components exhibit performance limitations, solid-state solutions unleash unprecedented control and protection capabilities. For AC systems solid-state enables cost efficient and reliable solutions on a broad scale and integrates advanced functionality into one single device. For DC systems, a solid-state protection scheme is a must. Ultra-fast fault detection feature within microseconds ensures selectivity and preventsfault porpagation across the system.

Trends such as IoT and smart buildings, rapid growth of AI data centers, virtualization, and cloud computing are expected to accelerate global UPS demand. Uninterruptible power supplies protect critical loads when the grid fails or power quality degrades. Unlike emergency generators, UPS systems respond instantly, bridging the gap for minutes—until backup generation ramps up or workloads complete an orderly shutdown. In AI data centers with DC microgrids, UPS architectures can be optimized for higher efficiency and simpler power paths while still delivering fast, reliable ride-through. Beyond continuity, modern UPS systems also condition power: they filter voltage spikes, sags, and noise, stabilize frequency, and help guarantee consistent power quality.

Thermal management is becoming a key enabler for AI data centers, helping operators handle extreme heat flux while improving energy efficiency and rack density. Whether customers choose HVAC-based air cooling or liquid cooling, and whether the power architecture is AC-based or built around DC microgrids, efficient and controllable infrastructure is essential—fans, compressors, pumps, valves, chillers, plus sensing, communications, and protection to keep performance stable under dynamic AI loads. Infineon supports these end-to-end cooling solutions with a broad portfolio for motor drives and power conversion, from compact low-power control to scalable medium- and high-power systems. Combined with advanced packaging and interconnection technologies, our solutions help raise efficiency, extend lifetime, and increase system reliability across both AC and DC deployments.

Powering AI requires meeting the increasing energy and thermal demands of modern AI workloads. As AI scales, data centers must deliver higher efficiency, lower total cost of ownership (TCO), and uncompromising reliability.

This evolution goes far beyond traditional power delivery. It includes DC microgrids for efficient distribution, solid-state transformers (SST) for medium-voltage conversion, solid-state circuit breakers (SSCB) for fast, precise protection, and highly efficient uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) to ensure continuous operation. At the same time, liquid cooling is becoming essential to manage the high heat flux of AI processors, enabling greater performance and high energy efficiency.

Infineon supports this transformation with a comprehensive offering for AI data center power distribution. The portfolio spans semiconductor technologies (Si, SiC, GaN), voltage classes, and complementary ICs, including  CoolSiC™, CoolMOS™, EasyPACK™, EiceDRIVER™;  XENSIV™; CoolSET™; PSoC™. Proven expertise across SST, SSCB, UPS, ESS, and cooling enables  end-to-end AI data center power infrastructure - from grid connection and conversion to distribution, protection, and cooling.

As global electricity demand surges—driven by AI data centers, transport electrification, growing industrial use, and rising cooling needs—traditional power grids face increasing strain. Solid-state transformers (SSTs) offer a game-changing solution, redefining how medium-voltage grids connect to modern loads. By leveraging advanced semiconductor technology, SSTs enable compact, efficient conversion and control while replacing architectures based on low-frequency transformers. In AI data centers, SSTs can directly feed DC microgrids, reducing conversion stages, improving efficiency, and enabling faster protection and control. As a global leader in power electronics, Infineon empowers energy-efficient SST designs. With a comprehensive, ready-to-use portfolio, Infineon covers power conversion, microcontrollers, security, auxiliary power supply, sensing, and communication designs.

Electro-mechanical circuit breakers were developed a 100 years ago. Now it is time for a smart, intelligent solid-state device. While conventional electro-mechanical components exhibit performance limitations, solid-state solutions unleash unprecedented control and protection capabilities. For AC systems solid-state enables cost efficient and reliable solutions on a broad scale and integrates advanced functionality into one single device. For DC systems, a solid-state protection scheme is a must. Ultra-fast fault detection feature within microseconds ensures selectivity and preventsfault porpagation across the system.

Trends such as IoT and smart buildings, rapid growth of AI data centers, virtualization, and cloud computing are expected to accelerate global UPS demand. Uninterruptible power supplies protect critical loads when the grid fails or power quality degrades. Unlike emergency generators, UPS systems respond instantly, bridging the gap for minutes—until backup generation ramps up or workloads complete an orderly shutdown. In AI data centers with DC microgrids, UPS architectures can be optimized for higher efficiency and simpler power paths while still delivering fast, reliable ride-through. Beyond continuity, modern UPS systems also condition power: they filter voltage spikes, sags, and noise, stabilize frequency, and help guarantee consistent power quality.

Thermal management is becoming a key enabler for AI data centers, helping operators handle extreme heat flux while improving energy efficiency and rack density. Whether customers choose HVAC-based air cooling or liquid cooling, and whether the power architecture is AC-based or built around DC microgrids, efficient and controllable infrastructure is essential—fans, compressors, pumps, valves, chillers, plus sensing, communications, and protection to keep performance stable under dynamic AI loads. Infineon supports these end-to-end cooling solutions with a broad portfolio for motor drives and power conversion, from compact low-power control to scalable medium- and high-power systems. Combined with advanced packaging and interconnection technologies, our solutions help raise efficiency, extend lifetime, and increase system reliability across both AC and DC deployments.

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