Applied Digital, a company specializing in the construction and operation of state-of-the-art data centers, has initiated an ambitious collaboration with ABB, a global leader in electrification and automation, to develop advanced energy infrastructures at its 400 MW campus in North Dakota (USA). This strategic alliance aims to drive fast, reliable, and energy-efficient solutions tailored to meet the growing capacity demands driven by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).
The first orders resulting from this collaboration were already recorded during the last quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. Although the economic details of the agreement have not been disclosed, both companies have confirmed that it is a long-term partnership focused on transforming the energy design of future data centers.
One of the technical pillars of this project is the implementation of a new medium-voltage architecture, based on HiPerGuard technology, ABB’s static medium-voltage uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system. This cutting-edge solution enables the increase of power density in data centers while significantly reducing the space required for electrical infrastructure and improving energy efficiency.
The initiative represents a paradigm shift from conventional data centers, which traditionally utilize low-voltage electrical distribution and UPS systems. Thanks to medium voltage, operators will be able to scale more efficiently, with modules of up to 25 MW per block, simplifying installation and increasing the overall reliability of the system. The use of higher voltages leads to lower conversion losses, reduced heat generation, and thus, greater energy efficiency.
“What we are building with ABB will completely revolutionize the way our industry designs large-scale data centers. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and ABB’s global reach, we can redefine the landscape of electrical infrastructure and meet the growing demand for AI factories,” stated Todd Gale, Director of Development at Applied Digital.
On his part, Massimiliano Cifalitti, President of Smart Power at ABB Electrification, underscored the strategic importance of such alliances: “Partnerships like this accelerate the development of AI-ready data centers with more competitive and resilient energy infrastructures. Our technology is designed to deliver maximum performance from our global production networks, with fast and high-level solutions.”
ABB’s HiPerGuard technology has been early adopted by large-scale data centers and research facilities in both North America and Europe, in their quest for greater energy efficiency and higher load capacities. The increasing power density of AI is necessitating a profound transformation in traditional electrical architectures, and the adoption of medium-voltage UPS emerges as a key solution to ensure a more sustainable and robust future for data centers.
With this agreement, Applied Digital strengthens its position as a key player in the new generation of infrastructures for artificial intelligence, while ABB reinforces its role as a strategic provider of technological solutions for a sector in full transformation.