FORT WORTH, TEXAS – Rows of servers at Meta’s Fort Worth Data Center, like those at facilities across the globe, are driving a quiet revolution in how electricity is delivered. The surging demand for power from artificial intelligence data centers and, increasingly, electric vehicles is challenging the existing power grid, an architecture largely unchanged since the “Current Wars” of the late 19th century. But a potential solution lies in revisiting a technology championed by Thomas Edison: direct current (DC) electricity.
The current grid relies on alternating current (AC), which allows electricity to travel long distances via transformers. This system, favored by Edison’s rival George Westinghouse, won out in the early 20th century. However, the rise of digital devices – each converting AC to DC – created a constant, unseen cycle of energy conversion. Now, the explosive growth of AI is intensifying this inefficiency.
“Demand is crazy everywhere,” said Phoebe Bernet, an associate at real estate firm CBRE, speaking specifically about the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which ranks second behind Northern Virginia for data center growth. According to a CBRE report, data center space under construction in Dallas-Fort Worth totaled 472.1 megawatts in the first half of 2024, a nearly 73% increase year-over-year, with 94.5% of that space already leased. This rapid expansion is straining local energy and water resources.
Inside data centers, electricity is repeatedly converted between AC and DC before reaching the servers that require DC power. Each conversion wastes energy and generates heat. Hyperscalers like Google and Microsoft, focused on maximizing efficiency, are increasingly turning to on-site solar and battery storage – both DC sources – to bypass the inefficiencies of the AC grid.
AI companies, including Nvidia, are actively pushing the power industry towards a high-voltage DC infrastructure. Both established energy suppliers and novel startups are investing in the development of this DC-native world. Meta’s Fort Worth Data Center, a 170-acre campus spanning over 2.5 million square feet, exemplifies this trend, focusing on efficiency and sustainability, and supporting renewable energy projects in Texas to meet its 100% clean and renewable energy goal.
The shift towards DC isn’t entirely new. DC has long been used in specialized applications like railways, telegraphs, and off-grid systems. The simplicity and efficiency of DC have made it a natural choice for remote locations and mobile applications like RVs and sailboats.
Even as the grid won’t entirely abandon AC, the future of electrification may increasingly rely on DC. After more than a century, direct current is poised to become the dominant force in the AI age, mirroring the vision of Thomas Edison and potentially rewriting the outcome of the Current Wars.
