Data centers are expected to consume 12% of U.S. electricity by 2028, so it’s no wonder tech companies are looking for power regardless of the source, whether it’s nuclear, renewable energy, or something else entirely. Not. However, solar power produces a completely different type of current than nuclear power plants, so integrating different power sources can be difficult.
“In 2023, global (data center) capacity will be around 90 GW, and by 2028 it will increase to more than 185 GW. So it’s just around the corner,” said Amperesand CEO. Gary Lawrence told TechCrunch.
Current equipment – transformers that convert power from one form to another – does the job, but Amperesand is betting its technology can do it better and more efficiently.
The core of Amperesand’s technology is replacing the iron cores that make up old transformers with silicon carbide. Existing transformers follow the same basic design that has worked well for more than a century, but they do have drawbacks. First, they are bad at controlling voltage and frequency surges and dips. Additionally, it must be tailored to the specific power format you are trying to convert.
Solid-state transformers made from silicon carbide promise to change this situation. “The solid-state transformer platform is multi-ported by design. It’s modular,” said Brian Dow, Ampelesand’s new chief product officer.
“You can create different AC phases, such as AC to AC and AC to DC. You can natively integrate DC power sources such as solar and batteries. You can integrate with turbines and small modular reactors. The Basics You can seamlessly transition between them, so if something goes wrong with your grid, you can not only back up, but also get back online.”
Amperesand is in the process of raising a Series A round after securing a $12.5 million seed round last year, the company exclusively tells TechCrunch. Phil Inagaki, managing partner at Temasek’s Xora Innovations, said: “The Series A has just started, but it’s moving very quickly.” In addition to data centers, the company is also targeting EV charging and grid applications, and the solid-state nature of the technology makes it easier to control with software. Last year, it demonstrated a 6-megawatt transformer.
Xora founded Amperesand, and Inagaki led the company from its inception. Recently, with some capital and a solid strategy in place, he handed over the reins to a new management team that included Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Dow and the company’s new chief technology officer, Tommy Joyner.
The Singapore-based startup is also preparing to open an office here in the US to be closer to the huge market and tap into local talent. For example, Dow and Joyner both worked at Tesla and Generac.
“There is still great talent in the United States that we can acquire,” Inagaki said. “We have some facilities in Singapore as well, but we can’t expand as quickly. So definitely that talent angle was a big factor.”