Solid-state transformers, grid capacity, and energy storage dominate this week's energy news.
Solid-State Transformers Advance with 800 VDC and New Cooling
New research and patents signal progress in solid-state transformer technology for data centers.
Articles explore the potential of 800 VDC distribution and solid-state transformers to improve AI data center efficiency. Cooling architectures and the patent landscape are also detailed, alongside supply chain considerations for key components.
- NEC Article 706 and the 800 VDC Data Center Distribution Code Gap That Solid-State Transformer Deployments Must Bridge
- Cooling Architectures for Medium-Voltage Solid-State Transformers: Forced Air, Forced Liquid, and Biodegradable Dielectric Fluid Immersion
- How Moving AI Data Centers to 800 VDC Distribution and Solid-State Transformers Sidesteps Phase Imbalance Entirely
Energy Storage Projects Secure Major Financing and Scale Up
Significant investments are flowing into large-scale battery storage projects across the US.
Several companies announced substantial financing rounds and project developments for energy storage, including Ford Energy's new battery business and large MWh-scale projects. This indicates strong market confidence in the sector.
- DESRI Breaks Ground on 270 MW Foxtail Flats and Four Mile Mesa
- Sunraycer Renewables Closes $901 Million Financing
- Alsym and Juniper Energy Plan 500 MWh
Canada and New England Focus on Grid Capacity Expansion
Nations and regions are planning significant grid capacity increases to meet future demand.
Canada aims to double its electricity grid capacity by 2050, while New England consumer advocates are urging FERC to consider grid expansion. These efforts highlight the growing need for robust power infrastructure.
- Canada Plans to Double Electricity Grid Capacity by 2050 Under New National Strategy
- Five New England Consumer Advocates Tell FERC Eversource
- Efficiency Canada Argues Doubling Grid Capacity Misses the Demand-Side Half of the Equation
Data Center Power Strategies Shift Towards Onsite Generation
Data centers are increasingly looking to onsite generation to manage grid integration challenges.
A significant percentage of US data centers plan to shift to onsite generation by 2030. This trend is driven by mounting grid integration challenges and the need for reliable power.
Microgrids and Onsite Generation Gain Momentum
Community and solar microgrids are being commissioned, supported by federal initiatives.
Avista commissioned Washington's first community microgrid, and Siemens deployed a solar microgrid with battery storage. Federal contracts are also driving infrastructure pushes for microgrids and onsite generation.
Hill County, Texas, became the first county to adopt NEC Article 706, signaling a shift toward onsite generation as grid integration challenges mount, with 27% of U.S. facilities expected to follow by 2030. Meanwhile, Star Catcher secured $65M for space-based power beaming, and NEC Article 706's 800 VDC gap highlights the need for solid-state transformers in data center distribution.
State of Data Center Power: 27% of U.S. Facilities Shift to Onsite Generation by 2030 as Grid Integration Challenges MountThe energy storage sector saw significant movement this week, with DESRI breaking ground on 270 MW at Foxtail Flats and Four Mile Mesa, and Spearmint Energy bringing 200 MW/400 MWh online. Ford Energy launched a 20 GWh U.S. battery storage business, while Alsym and Juniper Energy planned a 500 MWh facility. Sunraycer Renewables closed $901 million in financing, contributing to the $1.35 billion in new financing and over 20 GWh in motion reported for the sector.
State of Battery & Energy Storage: $1.35 Billion in New Financing and 20+ GWh in MotionAvista commissioned Eastern Washington's first community microgrid, and Siemens deployed a 1.25 MW solar microgrid with a 3.9 MWh battery. These deployments align with the broader trend of federal contracts driving infrastructure pushes, as noted in the State of Microgrids report.
State of Microgrids & Onsite Generation: Federal Contracts Drive B+ Infrastructure Push Through Mid-2026Megawatt-scale charging infrastructure has arrived, with bidirectional power capabilities reaching 750 kW, marking a significant threshold for EV charging this year.
State of EV Charging: Megawatt-Scale Infrastructure Arrives as Bidirectional Power Reaches 750 kWGrid operators face an October compliance deadline as AI and EV loads push harmonic limits, with MIT researchers citing a reactive power shortfall. This highlights the growing challenges in maintaining power quality and standards.
State of Power Quality & Standards: Grid Operators Face October Compliance Deadline as AI and EV Loads Push Harmonic LimitsCanada plans to double its electricity grid capacity by 2050, though Efficiency Canada argues this overlooks demand-side management. Meanwhile, EIA projects ERCOT solar generation to surpass coal. Five New England consumer advocates petitioned FERC regarding Eversource, as the sector added 58 GW with stabilizing demand response rules.
State of Grid Policy & Markets: 58 GW Added as Markets Clear Lower and Demand Response Rules StabilizeMegawatt charging emerged as a key infrastructure threshold this week, while solid-state transformer deployments remain in single digits. Industrial DC processes like electric arc furnaces represent an underdeveloped market, and the DC-link capacitor supply chain faces a bottleneck. Research continues into cooling architectures and the patent landscape, with NoMIS Power joining an ARPA-E project focused on 800 VDC distribution.
State of Power Electronics: Megawatt Charging Emerges as 2026 Infrastructure Threshold While Solid-State Transformers Remain Single-Digit Deployments