AI's effect on data center power needs

Artificial intelligence is completely changing how data centers are built and operated. What used to be relatively stable IT environments are now turning into massive power ecosystems. The main reason is simple — AI workloads need far more computing power, and that means far more energy.

We’re already seeing a sharp rise in total power consumption across the industry, but what’s even more striking is how much power is packed into each rack. Not long ago, most racks were designed for 5 to 15 kilowatts. Today, AI-heavy setups are hitting 50 to 70 kW, and the next generation could reach up to 1 megawatt per rack. That’s a huge jump — and it’s forcing everyone in the industry to rethink power delivery, cooling, and overall site design.

At those levels, traditional AC power distribution starts to reach its limits. That’s why many experts are already discussing a move toward high-voltage DC systems, possibly around 800 volts. DC systems can reduce conversion losses and handle higher densities more efficiently, which makes them a serious option for the future.

But with all this growth comes a big question: how do we stay responsible? Data centers are quickly becoming some of the largest power users on the planet. Society is starting to pay attention, and communities near these sites are asking fair questions — where will all this power come from, and how will it affect the grid or the environment? Building ever-bigger data centers isn’t enough; we need to make sure they’re sustainable and accepted by the public.

The next challenge is feasibility. Supplying hundreds of megawatts to a single facility is no small task. In many regions, grid capacity is already stretched, and new connections take years to approve. Add the unpredictable nature of AI power spikes, and you’ve got a real engineering and planning problem on your hands. The only realistic path forward is to make data centers more flexible — to let them pull energy from different sources, balance loads dynamically, and even generate some of their own power on-site.

That’s where ComAp’s systems come in. We help data center operators manage this complexity by making it simple to connect and control multiple energy sources — from renewables like solar or wind, to backup generators, to grid-scale connections. Our control systems allow operators to build hybrid setups that can adapt in real time, reduce emissions, and still keep reliability at 100%.

Just as importantly, ComAp helps with the grid integration side. When a single data center can draw as much power as a small city, it’s no longer just a “consumer” — it becomes part of the grid ecosystem. Our technology helps make that relationship smoother, allowing these large sites to interact intelligently with utilities and maintain overall grid stability.

And while today’s discussion is mostly around AC power, ComAp is already ready for the DC future. The same principles and reliability that have powered AC systems for decades will carry over to DC-based data centers. We’ve built our solutions to be flexible enough for that transition — so operators don’t have to wait for the technology to catch up.

In short, AI is driving a complete rethink of how data centers are powered. The demand and density will keep rising, and the pressure to stay responsible and sustainable will only grow stronger. The operators who succeed will be those who find smart ways to integrate different energy sources, keep efficiency high, and plan for the next generation of infrastructure.

That’s the space where ComAp is making a real difference.