Boston Consulting Group

Zurich – September 15, 2026 -- ABB and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) have released a joint report concluding that 800-volt direct current (DC) distribution is emerging as the reference architecture for next-generation artificial intelligence data centers, as surging computing loads push conventional AC power infrastructure to its practical limits.

The report, titled "The Strategic Case for Hybrid AC/DC Power: Shaping the Transition to the Next Electrical Architecture," argues that decisions made by business leaders and policymakers over the next two to three years will determine which players shape the shift toward hybrid AC/DC grids and which merely inherit it.

Zurich – September 9, 2026 -- ABB and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) have released a joint report concluding that 800-volt direct current (VDC) distribution is emerging as the defining architecture for next-generation artificial intelligence infrastructure, as surging AI compute demand pushes conventional electrical systems past their practical limits.

AI data centers drive urgent shift toward DC power

The report, titled 'The Strategic Case for Hybrid AC/DC Power: Shaping the Transition to the Next Electrical Architecture,' identifies AI data centers as the most immediate driver of DC adoption. Rising power-density requirements from AI workloads are forcing operators to seek architectures that maximize compute capacity within constrained grid connections while improving energy efficiency.

Zurich – September 12, 2026 -- ABB has published a report with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) arguing that direct current (DC) technology is shifting from a niche application to a central component of industrial, commercial and digital power infrastructure, with decisions made over the next two to three years determining which market players lead the transition.

800 VDC distribution emerges as defining architecture for AI infrastructure

The report identifies AI data centers as the most immediate driver of DC adoption, finding that conventional electrical architectures are reaching practical limits as AI workloads push power density requirements higher. It concludes that 800 VDC distribution is emerging as the defining architecture for next-generation AI infrastructure, enabling operators to maximize compute capacity within constrained grid connections while improving energy efficiency.