Zurich / North Dakota – Global electrification and automation leader ABB has deepened its strategic collaboration with Applied Digital, a rapidly growing developer and operator of high-performance AI data centers, to deliver cutting-edge medium voltage power technology for next-generation facilities.
(ABB Group) The expanded partnership will see ABB supplying advanced power distribution solutions for Applied Digital’s Polaris Forge 2 campus in North Dakota, USA — a 300 MW AI data center complex designed to meet surging power demands from today’s artificial intelligence (AI) workloads.
Meeting AI’s High Power Demand with Next-Level Infrastructure:
With AI pushing the boundaries of compute performance, data centers require robust, scalable, and efficient electrical systems. Higher power densities and stringent energy efficiency requirements are challenging traditional low-voltage architectures. In response, ABB and Applied Digital are deploying a new generation of medium voltage electrical infrastructure to support large-scale AI deployments.
(ABB Group) This expanded order, booked in the fourth quarter of 2025, follows an earlier collaboration on Applied Digital’s first Polaris Forge I campus. While financial details remain private, the partnership’s technological impact is significant. ABB will provide low and medium-voltage systems engineered for exceptional reliability, efficiency, and low Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) — a key performance indicator for energy-efficient data centers.
Quotes from Industry Leaders:
Todd Gale, Chief Development Officer at Applied Digital, highlighted the strategic value of the relationship, stating: “Our partnership with ABB reflects Applied Digital’s commitment to redefining what is possible in data center scale and performance.
Polaris Forge 2 represents the next evolution of our AI factory model — beginning with two 150-megawatt buildings with the ability to scale — solidifying our position as a leader in delivering high-performance, energy-efficient AI infrastructure.” (ABB Group) From ABB’s perspective, the initiative represents a forward leap in data center power engineering.
Massimiliano Cifalitti, President of ABB Smart Power, noted: “As AI reshapes data centers, ABB is working with leading digital infrastructure innovators to introduce a new generation of advanced power system solutions…enabled through close collaboration that drives higher efficiency, performance, and reliability.” (ABB Group)
AI-optimized data center campuses supported by ABB’s electrical power infrastructure solutions.
Why Medium Voltage Matters:
Traditional UPS (uninterruptible power supply) and distribution systems in data centers typically operate at low voltage levels, which can limit scalability and efficiency.
ABB’s medium voltage solutions — including its HiPerGuard UPS technology — are designed to overcome these limitations by enabling: Higher power density handling, reduced electrical losses, and improved energy efficiency. Simplified electrical plant layouts with fewer components and cabling. Modular expansion capabilities in 25 MW increments.
This medium voltage approach supports both reliability and future growth — crucial for AI workloads that demand maximum uptime with minimal energy waste. Implications for the Global Data Center Landscape The collaboration between ABB and Applied Digital exemplifies how data center power infrastructures are evolving to meet unprecedented AI compute requirements.
As hyperscale facilities expand to support cloud services, edge computing, and generative AI platforms, scalable and efficient power systems are increasingly a differentiator in terms of performance, operational cost, and sustainability.
(DataCenterDynamics) Industry analysts note that such partnerships not only improve electrical efficiency but also signal a shift toward AI-optimized power architectures that could become standard in future global deployments.
