The Future of Power for Data Centers: Amperesand’s Innovative Approach
With the rapid growth of data centers, projected to consume a staggering 12% of electricity in the U.S. by 2028, technology companies are urgently seeking diverse power solutions. Whether it’s nuclear, renewable, or unconventional sources, integrating these various power types poses unique challenges. Solar energy, for instance, generates a different kind of electric current compared to nuclear plants.
Gary Lawrence, CEO of Amperesand, shared with TechCrunch that the global data center capacity is expected to soar from 90 gigawatts in 2023 to over 185 gigawatts by 2028. This significant increase is just around the corner. While today’s transformers are capable, Amperesand believes it can offer a more efficient solution.
Revolutionizing Transformers with Silicon Carbide
At the heart of Amperesand’s innovation is its replacement of traditional iron cores in transformers with silicon carbide. The classic design of transformers has served well for over a century but comes with limitations. They struggle with regulating voltage and frequency fluctuations and must be customized for specific electricity formats.
“The solid-state transformer platform is multi-port by design; it’s modular,” explained Brian Dow, Amperesand’s new chief product officer. “We can create different AC phases, convert AC to AC, or AC to DC. You can natively integrate DC sources like photovoltaic solar and batteries.”
– Brian Dow
This capability allows seamless integration with various energy sources such as turbines and small modular reactors. If there’s an issue with the grid, these transformers can quickly adapt and transition between power sources.
Raising Funds and Expanding Horizons
Amperesand is on a fast track, having recently initiated a Series A funding round after securing a $12.5 million seed round last year. According to Phil Inagaki from Temasek’s Xora Innovations, the fundraising process is progressing rapidly.
The company aims to expand its applications beyond data centers to include EV charging and grid solutions. The solid-state nature of their technology simplifies control through software.
- Amperesand demonstrated a 6-megawatt transformer last year.
- Xora incubated Amperesand, guiding its early development.
- The startup plans to open an office in the U.S., enhancing access to talent and market opportunities.
A New Leadership Team Steers Growth
With firm strategies and funding in place, Inagaki has transitioned leadership responsibilities to a new team including Lawrence, Dow, and Tommy Joyner as the chief technology officer.
The U.S., home to immense talent pools, remains crucial for their expansion strategy. Both Dow and Joyner bring experience from industry giants Tesla and Generac to their roles at Amperesand.
“The U.S. is still where there’s amazing talent that we can capture,” Inagaki stated. “While we have some talent in Singapore, scaling quickly necessitates tapping into U.S. resources.”
– Phil Inagaki
