When AI Meets Energy: How a variable air gap solid state transformer can change the landscape of AI data center power supplies

AI data centers are projected to consume hundreds of terawatt-hours annually by 2035, demanding power conversion technologies that are not only energy-efficient but also cost-effective, scalable, and reliable. It is estimated that the global market for power supplies, distribution, and management systems serving AI data centers and cloud computing is expected to reach approximately $145–150 billion. Conventional line-frequency transformers and multi-stage AC-DC architectures suffer from low efficiency, bulkiness, high cost, low reliability, and limited dynamic response. To support the rapid growth of AI workloads and comply with emerging energy and environmental standards, innovative power electronics solutions are urgently needed. This presentation explores the development of a novel megawatt-scale, medium-voltage (MV) power conversion system based on a Variable Air Gap Solid-State Transformer architecture. The approach aims to reduce energy loss, footprint, and cost while enabling flexible, modular deployment, and achieving more reliable operation in large-scale AI data centers.

Bio

Dr. Mi is the founder and CTO of Novos Power, a company focused on delivering power solutions for modern data centers with the highest
efficiency, reliability, and lowest cost. He is a Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at San Diego State University (SDSU), a Fellow of both IEEE and SAE, and the Director of Cali & Daniel Chang Center for Electric Drive Transportation at SDSU. He was previously a faculty at the Univ. of Michigan-Dearborn 2001-15, and an Electrical Engineer with General Electric 2000-01. He also served as the CTO of 1Power Solutions and EV Safe Charge. Dr. Mi received his PhD from the Univ. of Toronto, Canada, in 2001.

Dr. Mi has published five books and 370 papers. He served as Editor-in-Chief, Area Editor, Guest Editor, and Associate Editor of multiple IEEE Transactions and international journals, as well as the General Chair of over ten IEEE international conferences. Dr. Mi has won numerous awards, including the “Distinguished Teaching Award” and “Distinguished Research Award” from the University of Michigan, IEEE Region 4 “Outstanding Engineer Award,” IEEE Southeastern Michigan Section “Outstanding Professional Award,” and SAE “Environmental Excellence in Transportation (E2T) Award.” He is the recipient of three Best Paper Awards from IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics and the ECCE Student Demonstration Award. In 2019, he received the Inaugural IEEE Power Electronics Emerging Technology Award. In 2022, he received the Albert W. Johnson Research Lectureship and was named the Distinguished Professor, the highest honor given to an SDSU faculty member, and only one award is given each year. In 2023, he received the IEEE PELS Vehicle and Transportation Systems Achievement Award, the IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications Best Paper Award, the SDSU Innovator of the Year Award. In 2024, he received the prestigious Alumni Distinguished Faculty Award from SDSU. Most recently, he received the Wang Family Excellence Award from the California State University System.