A new whitepaper, “Next-Generation Medium-Voltage Architecture for AI Data Centers,” details how medium-voltage power architectures unlock the next generation of AI data center infrastructure.
The whitepaper examines how MV systems integrated with UPS and battery storage systems (BESS) deliver unparalleled reliability, full regulatory compliance, advanced decarbonization capabilities, and scalability suitable for gigawatt campuses. As AI data centers are entering an era of unprecedented power demand, Domagoj Talapko, Business Development Manager, ABB Electrification and Carlos Nieto, Energy Storage and Microgrid Product Manager, ABB Electrification, discuss how operators can scale infrastructure while meeting decarbonization targets and maintain the resilience AI workloads require.
What makes AI workloads different?
Domagoj Talapko: AI workloads generate highly dynamic, non-linear power demands. Dense clusters of GPUs and tensor processing units require ultra-fast, stable power delivery with millisecond response times. This is fundamentally different from traditional cloud deployments, which have predictable load patterns.
As facilities scale to 200-500 MW, low-voltage distribution becomes impractical. Medium-voltage distribution—typically 6-35 kV—reduces copper requirements, lowers resistive losses, and simplifies architecture. This is not an incremental optimization. It is essential for efficiency, scalability, and reliability at this scale.
What grid compliance requirements must AI data centers now meet?
Carlos Nieto: Transmission System Operators worldwide are imposing stringent standards that traditional UPS systems were never designed to handle.
These requirements include:
- Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT)
- Multiple Fault Tolerance: Withstanding sequential faults within 90 seconds
- Active Power Recovery: Restoring at least 90% of active power within 0.5 seconds after a fault
- Reactive Power Support: Providing dynamic VAR support with reactive power ≥ 0.99
- Frequency Tolerance: Operating within specified frequency ranges (47.5-52 Hz in Europe, +2 Hz in Asia)
- Traditional low-voltage UPS systems lack this capacity. Hybrid systems comprised of Medium voltage UPS and BESS, designed for grid-forming operation and bidirectional power flow, meet these standards without generator intervention.
How do MV next generation architectures support Climate Neutral Data Center Pact targets?
Domagoj Talapko: The Pact sets clear benchmarks: 75% renewable energy by 2025 and carbon neutrality by 2030. Many operators are committing to 24/7 carbon-free operation.
Power Purchase Agreements alone cannot mitigate renewable intermittency or guarantee availability during grid disturbances. The MV architecture solves this through integrated battery energy storage and intelligent microgrid controls. Generator runtime decreases because BESS handles short-term events. This cuts fuel consumption and emissions. The system activates generators only during extended disturbances or low state-of-charge scenarios.
What operational flexibility does this architecture deliver?
Carlos Nieto: The MV microgrid operates in four distinct modes: Grid-Tied, Islanded, Black Start and Transition. Advanced Energy Management Systems and AI algorithms forecast load patterns, optimize battery cycling, and predict maintenance needs. This extends battery lifetime and improves return on investment.
The architecture also supports grid services participation—reserve markets, demand response, virtual power plants. This transforms the data center into an active grid asset, improving economic performance while supporting grid stability.
What does the future hold for AI power systems?
Domagoj Talapko: The industry is moving toward gigawatt-scale campuses organized as distributed energy islands. UPS systems will gain full grid-forming capabilities. Facilities will transition from diesel backup toward hydrogen-ready fuel cells and alternative fuels, supported by long-duration battery storage and autonomous microgrid controls.
International grid standards are harmonizing (IEC, IEEE, ENTSO-E), making cross-region deployment more feasible. The next step is validating how this architecture integrates with customer specific campus design, grid environment, and sustainability commitments. ABB is working with operators to model power flows, confirm compliance, and optimize system configuration for resilience and economic performance.
About the authors
Domagoj Talapko is a reliability-focused electrical engineer with over 18 years of experience in power systems, infrastructure design, and mission-critical operations. He holds a PhD in Reliability Engineering and leads global business development at ABB, driving innovation in high-power UPS systems and energy continuity solutions for AI-optimized data centers.
Carlos Nieto is an industrial and electrical engineer specializing in power systems and power electronics, with two decades of experience in electrification, energy storage and mission-critical power systems. He leads global product line activities for Energy Storage and Microgrids at ABB, driving innovation in new systems architectures, battery energy storage and energy management solutions. His expertise spans battery energy storage, grid integration, and energy continuity solutions. He focuses on enabling resilient and efficient power distribution for mission-critical applications, including data centers.
