ABB and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) published a report on Sept. 9, 2026, arguing that direct current (DC) technology is moving to the center of industrial and digital infrastructure. The firms advocate for a hybrid AC/DC system to meet rising electricity demand.

The report, titled The Strategic Case for Hybrid AC/DC Power: Shaping the Transition to the Next Electrical Architecture, states that decisions made in the next two to three years will determine the shape of this transition. While alternating current (AC) remains the backbone of transmission networks, DC is critical for facilities where major energy sources and loads operate natively on direct current.

Drivers of Adoption

The fastest-growing technologies are inherently DC-based. These include solar photovoltaic systems, batteries, electric vehicles, AI data centers, and many industrial automation systems. As these technologies scale, reducing power conversion steps between generation, storage, and consumption can improve efficiency. It also increases the usable capacity of existing grid connections and simplifies integration.

AI data centers are identified as one of the most immediate drivers. Conventional electrical architectures are reaching practical limits as AI workloads increase power density requirements. The report finds that 800 VDC distribution is emerging as the defining architecture for next-generation AI infrastructure. This enables operators to maximize compute capacity within constrained grid connections while improving energy efficiency.

Broader Industrial Impact

Beyond data centers, automation-intensive manufacturing facilities and commercial buildings can benefit from DC systems. Benefits include lower conversion losses, more effective integration of onsite renewables and storage, and enhanced operational flexibility. Over the longer term, residential buildings may also see advantages.

Morten Wierod, Chief Executive Officer of ABB, emphasized the need for collaboration among business leaders, policymakers, and technology stakeholders. He noted that ABB’s DC solutions have helped customers reduce conversion losses and improve power transfer efficiency for more than 25 years.

Challenges and Capabilities

The report addresses long-standing misconceptions regarding scale, safety, and economics, concluding that these concerns increasingly reflect outdated assumptions. Instead, fragmented standards and a shortage of DC-specific skills are seen as the primary challenges. Establishing common standards and developing DC-specific skills can help accelerate deployment.

ABB holds more than 700 DC-related patents. The company previously demonstrated the energy-saving potential of DC in vessels with a system that achieved fuel savings of up to 27 percent. It launched the industry’s first solid-state circuit breaker in 2022. ABB is now bringing DC distribution to electric transport, microgrids, and data centers, while exploring applications in low-carbon aluminum production and green hydrogen.

ABB and Nüvü Camēras developed the ultra-sensitive camera readout system for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. The infrared observatory launched on August 30, 2026, marking a significant milestone in deep-space imaging technology.

The Roman Coronagraph Instrument is designed to be 100 to 1000 times more powerful for imaging exoplanets than current space-based coronagraphs. This capability allows the telescope to suppress starlight and capture faint reflected light from planets orbiting distant stars. The mission aims to advance the search for other worlds and pave the way for NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory.

Technical Specifications

The telescope features a field of view 100 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope. This expanded view enables scientists to survey a significantly larger portion of the sky in a single observation. The system operates at the Lagrange point L2, located roughly four times the distance between Earth and the Moon. This position allows the observatory to block light pollution from both the Earth and the Sun.

Engineering and Reliability

ABB engineers compressed the camera readout system into a compact unit no larger than a shoe box. The electronics are built with space-qualified components designed to withstand harsh radiation environments and cryogenic temperatures. Given the telescope’s location beyond the reach of servicing missions, the reliability of these onboard systems is critical.

Marc Corriveau, General Manager of ABB’s Measurement & Analytics division in Canada, stated that the project demonstrates the convergence of scientific ambition and engineering innovation. The technology draws on expertise from 30 years of space projects and more than 140 optical systems currently operating in orbit.

Contract Background

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory awarded ABB the contract for the exoplanet camera readout system in 2020. The development was supported by the Canadian Space Agency’s technology programs. ABB has previously contributed optical technologies to missions by the European Space Agency, the Japanese Space Agency, and commercial satellite operators including GHGSat, EarthDaily, and Hydrosat.