Google, Microsoft, Nvidia Unite on AI Data Center Power Standard

Google, Microsoft, and Nvidia are teaming up through the Open Compute Project (OCP) to establish an open standard for powering AI data centers. The three tech giants want to create a common electrical foundation for AI factories by adopting 800-volt direct current (DC) as the new power standard.

With increasing power consumption driven by AI workloads, especially from Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), traditional low-voltage alternating current (AC) distribution is becoming difficult to scale. The proposed 800VDC standard offers several benefits, including a 50% to 80% reduction in copper usage and an 8% to 12% decrease in annual energy-related operational expenses.

By adopting 800VDC, data centers can also run cooler due to lower current levels, which translates to significant cost savings. For example, AI-first facilities can expect to save $4 million to $8 million in capital expenditures (CapEx) per 10 MW build by reducing upstream AC infrastructure.

The push for an open standard is driven by the need for a common solution that can be adopted throughout the data center supply chain, eliminating the need for separate power systems for each major customer. The effort has been ongoing since 2025 and aims to establish specifications that cover power quality, power smoothing, and end-to-end system interfaces.