ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) has launched Southeast Asia’s first live High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)-powered AI infrastructure testbed, marking a significant development in next-generation data center architecture. The FutureGrid Accelerator, located at Nanyang Technological University’s Electrification and Power Grids Centre on Jurong Island, is designed to validate HVDC integration with real AI workloads. Developed in collaboration with technology and research partners, the facility will test system performance at power loads of at least 325kW using advanced AI servers, with the aim of supporting high-density, high-resiliency computing environments.
The initiative positions HVDC as a scalable platform for AI-ready infrastructure and broader energy system transformation. Compared with conventional alternating current systems, HVDC architecture is expected to deliver up to 30% energy savings, reduce carbon emissions by as much as 400 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per megawatt annually, and lower copper usage and infrastructure footprint. The system is also designed to support ultra-high-density racks exceeding 1,000kW and enable more direct integration of renewable energy sources by minimizing power conversion losses.
STT GDC plans to deploy the validated HVDC technology in future data centers in Singapore and expand adoption across its global operations. The launch reinforces Singapore’s push to strengthen its digital infrastructure capabilities while aligning with long-term energy transition goals. As AI workloads continue to scale and power demands intensify, the testbed serves as a live environment to refine efficiency, reliability, and sustainability standards for next-generation data center infrastructure.
(Source: STT Telemedia Global Data Centres)
