News: Microelectronics
24 May 2024
Infineon unveils roadmap for power supply units in AI data centers
Infineon Technologies AG of Munich, Germany has unveiled a roadmap of energy-efficient power supply units (PSU) specifically designed to address the current and future energy need of artificial intelligence AI data centers.
By introducing what is described as unprecedented PSU performance classes, Infineon is enabling cloud data-center and AI server operators to reduce their energy consumption for system cooling. The PSUs reduce power consumption and CO2 emissions, resulting in lower lifetime operating costs. The powerful PSUs are not only used in future data centers but can also replace existing power supply units in servers and increase efficiency.
In addition to the existing PSUs with an output of 3kW and 3.3kW available today, the new 8kW and 12kW PSUs should contribute to further increasing energy efficiency in future AI data centers. With the 12kW reference board, Infineon will offer what is reckoned to be the first power supply unit that achieves this level of performance and supplies future data centers with power.
“We are addressing a critical question of our era – how to efficiently meet the escalating energy demands of data centers,” says Adam White, division president Power & Sensor Systems at Infineon. “It’s a development that was only possible by Infineon's expertise in integrating the three semiconductor materials silicon (Si), silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) into a single module.”
Infineon is responding to the requirements of data-center operators for higher system efficiency and lower downtimes. The growth of server and data-center applications has led to an increase in power requirements, necessitating the development of power supplies with higher power ratings from 800W up to 5.5kW and beyond. This increase is driven by the growing power requirements of graphic process units (GPU) on which AI applications are computed.
High-level GPUs now require up to 1kW per chip, reaching 2kW and beyond by the end of the decade. This will lead to higher overall energy demand for data centers. Depending on the scenario, data centers will account for up to 7% of global electricity consumption by 2030; an order of magnitude comparable to India’s current electricity consumption.
Image: Infineon has developed a family of power supply units from 3kW to 12kW.
Infineon says that its new PSUs contribute to efforts to limit the CO2 footprint of AI data centers despite the rapidly growing energy requirements. This is made possible by a particularly high level of efficiency that minimizes power losses. The firm’s new-generation PSUs achieve an efficiency of 97.5% and meet the most stringent performance requirements. The new 8kW PSU is capable of supporting AI racks with an output of up to 300kW and more. Efficiency and power density is increased to 100 Watts per in³ compared with 32W/in³ in the available 3kW PSU, providing further benefits for the system size and cost savings for operators.
The 8kW power supply unit will be available in first-quarter 2025.
Infineon at PCIM Europe 2024
Infineon is presenting its products and solutions for decarbonization and digitalization in booths #470 and #169 (Hall 7) at Power, Control and Intelligent Motion (PCIM) Europe 2024 in Nuremberg, Germany (11-13 June). Company representatives are also giving several presentations at the accompanying PCIM Conference and Forums, followed by discussions with the speakers.
