In a quiet corner of Chengdu, the hum of KCY’s data center servers never stops. What was once a blueprint is now a high-performance computing data center capable of 500 petaflops and built to grow.
That's roughly equivalent to every person on Earth performing 62,500 calculations every second. It’s the kind of performance needed for training large AI models or processing massive scientific datasets in real time.
Powering this scale takes more than just electricity. It takes foresight, flexibility, and above all, resilience, as surging data demands put data centers under pressure to operate reliably and energy-efficiently while also scaling capacity. Backed by a comprehensive ABB power solution, this data center is not just operational—it’s already preparing for what’s next.
Scaling for Growth: Modular, Compact, and Futureproof
Because AI server racks consume 4 to 8 times more energy than conventional servers (EPRI), the International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that electricity demand from AI-optimised data centres will more than quadruple by 2030.
In China alone, data center energy consumption is forecasted to rise by 175 TWh, a 170% jump compared to 2024, making efficiency, scalability, and uptime not just operational goals, but national priorities.
The facility in Chengdu is part of China’s broader “Eastern Data, Western Computing” strategy: an ambitious initiative to shift data processing from eastern regions (suffering from shortages of land and energy resources) to western regions rich in renewable energy.
This makes infrastructure choices more critical than ever. In Chengdu, ABB provided a comprehensive power solution—from medium-voltage switchgear to low-voltage distribution systems—designed to scale with the customer’s growth plans.
One critical win: ABB’s compact MV switchgear design cut floor space by over 25% compared to traditional setups. That reclaimed space allowed more room for IT cabinets, directly increasing the customer’s capacity and return on investment.
With phases two and three already in planning, that space is going to be needed. The power infrastructure is built to scale fast—with modular, offsite-ready components designed for phased deployment and simplified expansion.
Efficient by Design: Making Every Megawatt Count
A recent industry survey by Economist Impact found that while 44% of companies consider AI energy efficiency important today, that number will jump to 78% within the next 12 months. Yet there’s no silver bullet for AI sustainability: organizations are adopting a wide range of strategies, with 34% optimizing hardware for better energy performance.This aligns closely with ABB’s approach: no one-size-fits-all, but a toolbox of scalable technologies that support energy efficiency from the ground up.
The Chengdu facility integrates ABB technologies that enhance energy use, minimize costly downtime and reduce maintenance costs over time.
Highlights include:
- Smarter energy management systems, enabling more precise monitoring and control to reduce energy consumption and optimize Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE)
- High-efficiency circuit design, improving current-carrying capacity and cutting main circuit energy losses
- Optimized switchroom cooling, lowering both air-conditioning energy use and costs
A Glimpse of the Future
As AI drives up demand and energy systems grow more complex, one thing is clear: technological innovation and collaboration will define the data center industry’s next chapter.
ABB works with partners of all sizes—from startups to global tech giants—to co-develop and deploy cutting-edge solutions. In Chengdu, this spirit of innovation is now powering reality.
And with additional phases on the horizon, this data center isn’t just meeting the moment—it’s ready for what’s next.
“As demand for AI-scale compute accelerates, ABB’s mission is clear: empower data centers to scale efficiently, operate reliably, and stay ahead of what’s next," Danel Turk, Product Marketing Manager, ABB Data Center Solutions. "We’ve been preparing for this moment for over a decade—pioneering intelligent power distribution solutions designed to handle AI’s dynamic energy needs.”
