TLDRs;
- Vertiv and Nvidia are developing an 800VDC system to power next-generation AI data centers by 2026.
- The new platform will support Nvidia’s Rubin Ultra GPUs, enabling gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure.
- Regulatory approvals and safety standards remain key hurdles for 800VDC system deployment.
- Vertiv stock rose 5.38% this week as investors remain optimistic about AI infrastructure growth.
Vertiv, a U.S.-based digital infrastructure firm, has announced significant progress in its ongoing collaboration with Nvidia to develop next-generation power systems designed for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.
In the past five days, Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) shares are up 5.38%, although Thursday saw a minor pullback of just over 1.65%. The two companies are advancing an 800-volt direct current (VDC) power platform that aims to meet the skyrocketing energy demands driven by AI workloads.
The system is expected to be released in the second half of 2026, coinciding with the rollout of Nvidia’s Rubin Ultra AI platforms in 2027. For Vertiv, this partnership represents both a technological leap and a strategic alignment with one of the most influential players in the AI hardware ecosystem.
Moving beyond the traditional 54V DC systems, Vertiv’s 800VDC platform introduces an integrated design incorporating energy storage, centralized rectifiers, DC busways, and rack-level DC-DC converters. These innovations target greater efficiency, lower copper usage, and improved scalability for large-scale AI and high-performance computing (HPC) systems.
Building the Backbone of Nvidia’s “Gigawatt AI Factories”
Vertiv’s power systems are becoming a critical piece of Nvidia’s broader strategy to establish “gigawatt-scale AI factories.” Nvidia recently unveiled its Vera Rubin NVL144 MGX open architecture rack servers during the OCP Global Summit, showcasing a platform capable of connecting up to 576 Rubin Ultra GPUs through 800VDC infrastructure.
Industry partners such as Foxconn, CoreWeave, Lambda, Nebius, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, and Together AI are all contributing to this 800VDC shift. Vertiv, in particular, has introduced a reference architecture that supports Nvidia’s designs, marking its central role in this ecosystem.
The move to 800VDC power delivery promises not only improved energy efficiency but also greater rack density and reduced copper material costs. However, experts note that international safety and electrical codes, including IEC, UL, and NEC standards, will still play a major role in determining how quickly these systems can be widely deployed.
Regulatory and Engineering Challenges Ahead
Despite the enthusiasm around 800VDC’s potential, the path to adoption remains complex. The infrastructure’s high voltage poses stringent safety requirements for data centers, especially since personnel must operate within these environments. Concerns about arc-flash hazards, touch-safe designs, and maintenance protocols continue to draw scrutiny from electrical safety boards.
Analysts also caution that global data center operators will need time to align new designs with evolving Open Compute Project (OCP) and Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) standards. While Nvidia’s MGX platform is compatible with these technologies, full readiness for 800VDC infrastructure remains uncertain.
Still, Vertiv’s early involvement in several AI data center projects demonstrates confidence in its design roadmap. The company has over 4,000 field engineers globally, positioning it well to handle deployment challenges as adoption scales.
Liquid Cooling and Efficiency Gains
Another key piece of Nvidia’s AI infrastructure push is liquid cooling, with the Vera Rubin NVL144 system supporting 45°C full liquid operation.
This technology enables direct-to-chip (D2C) cooling, which removes up to 80% of heat directly at the source, a critical feature for AI racks drawing between 30 to 100 kilowatts.
Vertiv’s solutions are expected to integrate seamlessly with these designs, offering modular, high-efficiency systems for data centers that plan to shift from air-cooled to liquid-cooled configurations. The combination of 800VDC and D2C cooling could deliver 2-to-4-year ROI, making Vertiv’s offerings attractive to hyperscalers and cloud operators investing in AI infrastructure ahead of 2027.
