Powering the AI Boom Without Losing Sight of Electrical Safety

Key Points

• Artificial intelligence workloads are dramatically increasing power demands inside data centers.
• Higher-voltage direct current architectures can help deliver greater power levels more efficiently, but they introduce new safety and protection considerations.
• Industry standards, testing methods and guidance are evolving to support safety as data centers incorporate new technologies.

Data centers are evolving to support significantly greater power densities than just a few years ago, leading operators to evaluate new approaches to power distribution, equipment design and electrical safety.

In a new EEPower article, UL Solutions experts examine how the industry is responding to the growing power demands of artificial intelligence (AI) and what it will take to support safety in the next generation of data center infrastructure. The article's authors are Ken Boyce, vice president, principal engineering, TIC Industrial; Lisa Grams, vice president, product management, TIC Industrial; and Michael Jensen, senior product manager, data centers, Power & Automation.

The article answers several key questions:

What impact is AI having on data center power requirements?

AI workloads are driving significant increases in data center power demand. Server racks that once required about 10 kilowatts (kW) of power can now require around 120 kW, and future racks could require as much as 1 megawatt (MW) of power. This growth is pushing operators to evaluate new approaches to power distribution that can support higher-density computing.

Why are data centers moving to higher-voltage direct current (DC) architectures?

Supplying hundreds of kilowatts or even megawatts to a rack can be optimized through higher-voltage DC power distribution. Data centers are moving toward architectures such as 800 volts direct current (VDC) and eventually 1500 VDC, which can help deliver greater levels of power more efficiently.

How do higher-voltage architectures change data center design?

In traditional data centers, higher-power electrical infrastructure was more clearly separated from information technology (IT) equipment. As power demand increases, power infrastructure is moving closer to computing equipment, creating a more integrated system where equipment, protection devices and power distribution must operate together under increasingly complex conditions.

Why do maintenance practices need to change at higher voltages?

In earlier data center designs, much of the routine work around IT equipment could be performed while systems remained energized. At 800 VDC, exposure to energized conductors creates significant electrical safety risks, including electric shock and arc-flash hazards. As a result, maintenance activities may require additional safeguards and closer adherence to electrical safety procedures.

What is arc flash and why is it a concern?

An arc flash occurs when electrical current travels through the air between conductors, creating a conductive plasma. In higher-power systems, an arc flash can release extreme heat, intense light, pressure waves and sound almost instantaneously. At higher power levels, the potential consequences of an arc-flash event become more severe.

Why is fault protection becoming more important in AI data centers?

As available fault current increases, protective devices and electrical equipment must be able to safely interrupt or withstand fault conditions. If protective devices are not properly rated, they may fail to interrupt a fault, while equipment that cannot withstand the current can fail before protection clears the event.

Why are standards evolving for higher-voltage data center power systems?

Requirements such as the National Electrical Code® (NEC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E and UL Standards provide a foundation for electrical safety, but much of the existing knowledge is rooted in experience with high-current alternating current (AC) applications. Although standards exist for evaluating arc hazards, the ability to measure and predict arc-flash energy in DC systems remains limited.

As higher-voltage DC architectures become more common, standards and guidance continue to evolve to address new safety challenges.

What is the UL Solutions Data Center Power Distribution Standards Roadmap?

The UL Solutions Data Center Power Distribution Standards Roadmap includes a gap analysis of more than 60 power-related standards to identify areas where existing requirements need to evolve to support emerging 800 VDC and future 1500 VDC data center applications. It addresses topics such as power distribution equipment, protection devices, cabling, connectors, compute infrastructure and modular power systems.

How is UL Solutions helping support safety in the transition to higher-voltage data centers?

UL Solutions is collaborating with organizations such as the Open Compute Project (OCP) and Current/OS on next-generation power systems. Through OCP's Power Distribution Sub-Project, UL Solutions leads the Codes & Standards workstream, which brings together stakeholders from organizations including the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), hyperscalers and manufacturers.

Where can I learn more?

Read the article in EEPower: "Powering AI Safely in a New Era of High-Voltage Data Centers."

Additional information is available on the Data Center Ecosystem pageand the Powering the Next Generation of Data Centers guide pageat UL.com.