German Firms Develop Solid-State Transformer for High-Voltage AI Datacenter Power Delivery

Siemens and Reinhausen, two German engineering companies, are developing a solid-state transformer (SST) to deliver 800-volt DC power directly to increasingly dense AI datacenter racks. This move aims to address the growing power demands and efficiency challenges of next-generation AI infrastructure. The SST is expected to provide a compact, galvanically isolated alternative to conventional AC-to-DC power conversion architectures, reducing intermediate conversion stages and enabling more efficient delivery to high-density AI infrastructure.

According to Reinhausen, datacenters supporting AI workloads are among the industry's most demanding power consumers. The SST is designed to handle sudden load spikes that can strain servers, storage, and cooling systems, reducing performance and potentially causing outages.

Siemens CEO of Electrification and Automation, Stephan May, commented that solid-state transformers are critical for large and power-intensive structures like AI datacenters, enabling higher efficiency, direct grid-to-rack DC conversion, and a reduced footprint. Reinhausen's managing director, Wilfried Breuer, added that their technology enables AI datacenters to operate with the efficiency and reliability they require.

Nvidia, an industry heavyweight, has also embraced 800 VDC power distribution for AI infrastructure, stating that the shift will be necessary to support IT racks drawing 1 MW or more. Hyperscalers such as Google are already planning for megawatt-scale racks, and Nvidia is developing its own MGX-compatible 800 VDC power rack, scheduled for release in the second half of 2026.

Siemens and Reinhausen plan to industrialize their datacenter SST, but have not yet announced when it will become commercially available.