Microsoft Turns to New Power Line Technology to Fuel AI Expansion

Microsoft is exploring the use of superconducting power lines in its data centres as part of efforts to improve energy efficiency and accelerate expansion of its server infrastructure in the United States, the company said on Tuesday.

The move comes as major technology companies race to build and electrify large-scale data centres to support growing demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing. However, the rapid expansion has been slowed by the United States’ aging power grid and limited electricity supply.

Microsoft said recent tests of high-temperature superconductor cables showed they can transmit the same amount of electricity as conventional cables while occupying significantly less space.

“The technology helps us scale power density without expanding our physical footprint,” said Husam Alissa, who leads the Systems Technology Team at Microsoft’s Cloud and Operations and Innovation (CO+I) Chief Technology Officer office. He added that the technology could also reduce the size of power transmission infrastructure and lessen the impact on surrounding communities.

High-temperature superconductor cables use ceramic-like materials that conduct electricity more efficiently than traditional copper and aluminium cables commonly used in power systems.

Although the cables are not currently deployed in data centres, Microsoft said their adoption could reduce the time required to supply electricity to large server facilities. The company noted that the technology could allow increased electrical capacity inside data centres without the need to expand infrastructure such as substations. Microsoft, however, did not disclose how much it has invested in superconducting technology or provide a timeline for potential deployment.

According to research from the U.S. government, electricity consumption by data centres could reach about 12 percent of total U.S. power demand by 2028, nearly tripling compared with four years earlier. Many new data centre campuses under development are expected to require more than one gigawatt of electricity, enough to power approximately 750,000 homes.

Superconducting cable technology has been under development for decades but has faced challenges related to high production costs and manufacturing limitations.

Microsoft is investing in several companies developing the technology, including Massachusetts-based cable manufacturer and cooling systems provider VEIR. The company recently completed a test of a three-megawatt superconducting cable designed to power a server rack in a simulated data centre. VEIR said its advanced cables could be more than ten times smaller and lighter than traditional cables, potentially enabling more compact data centre designs.