ABB and Hangzhou Zhongheng Electric Co., Ltd. have renewed their strategic cooperation agreement in Hangzhou, China, reinforcing their collaboration in artificial intelligence data center (AIDC) infrastructure and power distribution technologies.

Building on their established partnership, the two companies will deepen technical cooperation and commercial collaboration, with a particular focus on direct current (DC) power distribution systems. Their joint efforts will explore more efficient and reliable power supply solutions designed to address the growing electricity demands of next-generation AI computing infrastructure.

As artificial intelligence applications continue to expand, data centers are experiencing significant increases in computing density and power consumption. This development is creating new challenges for electrical infrastructure, particularly in energy efficiency, power reliability, and equipment space utilization. ABB and Zhongheng Electric aim to address these requirements through closer cooperation in DC power technologies and integrated electrical solutions.

Growing Demand for Advanced Power Infrastructure in AI Data Centers

The rapid development of generative AI, large language models, and high-performance computing is changing the requirements of modern data centers.

Compared with conventional data centers, AI facilities often require higher power density to support advanced processors, GPU clusters, and increasingly demanding computing workloads. Their electrical infrastructure must deliver stable power while maintaining high energy efficiency and operational reliability.

Power distribution has therefore become a critical consideration in the design and construction of AI data centers.

Traditional alternating current (AC) power systems remain widely used in data center infrastructure. However, DC power distribution is attracting increasing industry attention because it can simplify certain power conversion stages and offer opportunities to improve overall system efficiency.

By optimizing the electrical architecture and reducing unnecessary conversion steps, appropriately designed DC systems can help reduce energy losses and support higher-density power delivery.

Against this background, ABB and Zhongheng Electric are strengthening their cooperation to explore DC power distribution technologies suited to the evolving requirements of AI data centers.

ABB and Zhongheng Electric to Deepen DC Power Technology Cooperation

Under the renewed agreement, both companies will leverage their respective technical capabilities and industry experience in electrical components, power distribution, and DC power supply systems.

Their cooperation will focus on several key areas:

• DC Power Distribution Architecture: Exploring power distribution solutions suitable for the high-density electrical requirements of next-generation AI data centers.

• Electrical Product Integration: Strengthening product compatibility and supporting coordinated deployment of electrical components within DC power systems.

• Technical Adaptation: Improving the integration of different technologies and products to meet specific data center application requirements.

• System Testing and Validation: Working together on technical verification to support the reliability and practical application of integrated power solutions.

• Market Cooperation: Exploring additional business opportunities and bringing suitable technologies and products closer to the actual needs of AI data center customers.

This cooperation is expected to move beyond conventional product supply arrangements toward deeper technical integration and application-oriented development.

For data center operators and infrastructure developers, this approach could help simplify solution integration and provide more coordinated electrical infrastructure options.

ABB's Electrical Technologies Support Next-Generation Data Centers

ABB brings extensive experience in electrical distribution, power protection, and industrial electrification to the partnership.

Its technologies cover a broad range of applications, including low-voltage and medium-voltage distribution, circuit protection, electrical control, and power management.

In AI data centers, these technologies are important for maintaining stable power delivery to critical IT equipment and supporting the electrical infrastructure required by high-density computing environments.

ABB has also been expanding its direct current technology portfolio to address emerging data center requirements.

In September 2026, ABB introduced its Infinitus DC portfolio, designed to support AI data center power infrastructure from the source to the server rack. The portfolio includes technologies for power conversion, DC distribution, power protection, and cooling optimization.

The introduction of this portfolio reflects ABB's broader strategy to develop flexible electrical architectures for increasingly demanding computing and industrial applications.

The renewed cooperation with Zhongheng Electric further highlights the importance of collaboration between electrical equipment manufacturers and specialized DC power technology providers in developing integrated solutions for the AI infrastructure market.

Zhongheng Electric Strengthens Its Position in HVDC and Data Center Power Solutions

Founded in 1996, Hangzhou Zhongheng Electric Co., Ltd. is a Chinese power electronics and energy technology company listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange under stock code 002364.

The company focuses on DC power supply technologies and energy digitalization solutions, with business activities covering AI data center power infrastructure and new power systems.

Zhongheng Electric has developed capabilities in high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power supply systems for data centers, as well as prefabricated power modules.

Its experience in DC power technologies provides an important foundation for the cooperation with ABB.

As AI data centers move toward higher power density and more demanding electrical requirements, HVDC technology is attracting growing attention as a potential approach to improving power delivery efficiency and optimizing infrastructure design.

Through closer cooperation with ABB, Zhongheng Electric aims to further develop its power supply technologies and expand collaboration in the AI computing infrastructure market.

Long-Term Partnership Creates Opportunities for Industrial Electrification

The renewed agreement builds on years of cooperation between ABB and Zhongheng Electric in data center power distribution.

The latest development reflects a broader expansion of their relationship, moving from existing product coordination toward more comprehensive technical and application-level cooperation.

For ABB, the partnership provides opportunities to work more closely with a specialized Chinese DC power technology company and explore solutions for the rapidly developing AI infrastructure market.

For Zhongheng Electric, cooperation with an international electrical technology provider offers additional opportunities to strengthen product integration, technical development, and market collaboration.

Both companies will continue exploring ways to combine their respective strengths to address customer requirements for efficient, reliable, and intelligent power infrastructure.

Industry Outlook: DC Power Distribution Gains Importance in the AI Era

The cooperation between ABB and Zhongheng Electric reflects an important trend in the electrical equipment and data center industries: power infrastructure is becoming a strategic part of AI computing development.

As computing workloads become more intensive, data center operators must consider not only server performance but also the efficiency, reliability, scalability, and physical footprint of their electrical systems.

Technologies such as HVDC power supply, advanced power distribution, intelligent protection, and integrated electrical solutions are expected to play increasingly important roles in future data center development.

However, the practical benefits of DC architectures depend on system design, voltage selection, conversion efficiency, protection coordination, and application conditions. Their successful deployment requires comprehensive engineering and validation.

By renewing their strategic partnership, ABB and Zhongheng Electric are strengthening their cooperation in these areas and exploring new opportunities in next-generation AI data center infrastructure.

The collaboration highlights how electrical equipment technologies and DC power innovations can contribute to the development of more efficient and reliable computing infrastructure as the global demand for AI continues to grow.