The AI-driven energy revolution is reshaping the entire power supply system, from chips to grids. Infineon's latest white paper presents seven key predictions outlining the future of AI-powered energy: In the next decade, single-processor load currents will reach 10,000 amps—10 times current levels; power shelf ratings will exceed 100 kW; AI server rack power consumption will surpass 1 MW; and data center power demands will scale to gigawatt levels.
Adam White, President of Infineon’s Power & Sensor Systems division, noted that since ChatGPT’s launch in late 2022, AI’s exponential growth has created unprecedented power challenges, pushing the industry to innovate.
These predictions span vertical power delivery to DC microgrids, profoundly impacting data center operators, equipment manufacturers, and investors. As AI workloads surge, traditional 48V power architectures will be replaced by high-voltage DC systems, while renewable energy integration becomes critical to meeting massive demand.
**Prediction 1: Vertical Power Delivery to Dominate Future Processor Design** Infineon forecasts vertical power delivery as a key technology for modern processors. GPUs and TPUs using cutting-edge processes (e.g., TSMC’s N4P) integrate multiple dies to overcome single-process limits. As chip sizes grow and voltages drop to ~0.4V, total current could hit 10,000A within a decade. Traditional lateral power delivery struggles with space and efficiency at such currents, prompting power delivery through the processor’s backside.
Infineon offers a full portfolio from discrete power stages to 4-phase vertical power modules, with Gen3 products achieving 2A/mm² current density. Combining OptiMOS™ 7 low-voltage silicon MOSFETs, embedded die packaging, and patented 3D integration, the company delivers unmatched power density.
**Prediction 2: High-Voltage DC to Replace 48V Ecosystems** When single-rack power exceeds 1 MW, systems must shift from 48V to 800V or ±400V DC. This transition is expected at 200–250 kW/rack, where 48V busbars would carry 4,100–5,200A. Future server boards will operate directly at 800V/±400V, requiring new modules like e-fuses and hot-swap capabilities. Infineon’s XDP™ XDP70x hot-swap controllers and CoolSiC™ JFET solutions enable controlled pre-charging and fast disconnects.
Its 6 kW 800V→12V demo board achieves 2,300W/in³ density, 97.4% peak efficiency, and 96.6% full-load efficiency.
**Prediction 3: AI Racks Enter the Megawatt Era** Training trillion-parameter AI models demands thousands of GPUs synchronized in a single rack. As intra-rack data rates outpace inter-rack speeds, racks will pack more GPUs—reaching 72 blades/rack, pushing power beyond 1 MW in 10 years. Space constraints will relocate power modules and backup batteries to side cabinets or auxiliary racks, focusing main racks on IT loads and high-speed comms.
**Prediction 4: Power Shelves to Exceed 100 kW** At 100 kW/rack, 12 kW PSUs with single-phase AC input can scale while maintaining 1U footprints. Six modules (72 kW) per shelf and eight shelves/rack pave the way for 1 MW racks. Infineon’s 12 kW demo uses multi-level architecture: 400V CoolSiC™ MOSFETs on the high side and 80V CoolGaN™ HEMTs on the secondary. For 1 MW racks, data centers will adopt three-phase PSUs tied to 400V/480V AC grids.
**Prediction 5: Next-Gen Data Centers Scale to Gigawatt Demand** Rising GPU power and dense AI nodes are driving new data centers to hundreds of MW. Dedicated "AI factories" will soon hit gigawatt-scale consumption, with hyperscalers already planning such builds. Infineon’s CoolSiC™ MOSFETs (400V–3.3kV), CoolSiC™ JFET protection, and GaN HEMTs (80V–650V) ensure stable gigawatt operations.
**Prediction 6: DC Microgrids to Transform Power Distribution** At gigawatt levels, new infrastructure is essential. DC microgrids—fed directly from medium-voltage AC grids (10–35kV) and distributing high-voltage DC—eliminate traditional AC-DC conversion. Solid-state transformers (SSTs), crucial here, will deliver 2–10 MW outputs per unit. Infineon’s CoolSiC™ MOSFETs and IGBTs (750V–3.3kV) support these applications.
**Prediction 7: Renewables as Key to AI’s Future** AI is among the top three drivers of global electricity demand growth this decade, per IEA. With ~50% of data center power already renewable, sustainable energy is vital for AI’s next leap. Infineon projects:
- AI data centers must adopt renewables, requiring ~8 km² solar fields per 1 GW facility - Nuclear and small modular reactors will provide zero-carbon baseload - While non-renewables persist, the focus is on decarbonizing data centers globally.
Comments