Solid-State Transformers and 800 VDC Grid-to-Chip Power Conversion for Next-Generation AI Data Centres

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is driving a major increase in data centre power demand, with modern AI servers requiring high-current, high-efficiency, tightly regulated power delivery from medium- or high-voltage distribution levels down to low-voltage computing loads. Conventional power distribution architectures are increasingly challenged by the need for higher power densities, improved efficiency, reduced conversion stages, fast dynamic responses, modularity, and enhanced thermal management.

Solid-state transformers (SSTs) are emerging as a promising enabling technology for next-generation AI data centres. By combining high-frequency isolation, advanced power semiconductor devices, intelligent control, and modular converter structures, SST-based systems can support more compact, efficient, and flexible power distribution architectures. Their potential role includes medium-voltage AC or DC interfacing, 800 V DC distribution, high-step-down conversion, galvanic isolation, bidirectional power flow, power quality improvement, and integration with energy storage or renewable sources.

This Special Issue invites high-quality original research papers, review articles, and technical contributions addressing the design, modelling, optimisation, control, thermal management, and practical implementation of SSTs and associated power conversion technologies for AI data centres and high-performance computing infrastructure.

The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• SST architectures for AI data centres and high-power digital infrastructure;
• Medium-voltage to low-voltage power conversion;
• 800 V DC and high-voltage DC distribution systems;
• Isolated DC/DC converters, dual-active bridges, LLC converters, resonant converters, and multi-level converter topologies;
• Wide-bandgap semiconductor devices, including SiC and GaN, for SST applications;
• High-frequency transformer and magnetic component design;
• Converter optimisation for efficiency, power density, cost, reliability, and manufacturability;
• Advanced cooling methods, including liquid cooling, immersion cooling, and thermal co-design;
• Digital control, model-predictive control, AI-assisted control, and real-time monitoring;
• Fault tolerance, protection, reliability, and condition monitoring;
• EMI/EMC challenges in high-frequency, high-power SST systems;
• Integration of SSTs with energy storage, renewable generation, UPS systems, and grid-interactive data centres;
• Experimental prototypes, hardware validation, and system-level demonstrations.

We welcome contributions from academia and industry that advance the understanding, development, and deployment of SST-based power-conversion systems for future AI data centre infrastructure. Submissions presenting practical design methodologies, validated prototypes, comparative studies, and forward-looking reviews are particularly encouraged.

Dr. Gerardo Calderon-Lopez
Prof. Dr. Christian A. Rojas
Prof. Dr. Przemysław Ptak
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• 800 VDC power distribution
• grid-to-chip power conversion
• intermediate-bus converters
• point-of-load converters
• GPU voltage regulation
• multiphase converters
• vertical power delivery
• wide-bandgap semiconductors