onsemi Unveils Complete Power Solution to Improve Energy Efficiency for Data Centers

Rhea-AI Summary

onsemi has introduced a new power solution combining their T10 PowerTrench® family and EliteSiC 650V MOSFETs, aiming to enhance energy efficiency in data centers.

This technological innovation addresses the rising energy demands of AI workloads, potentially reducing global data center energy consumption by 10 TWh annually. The new MOSFETs offer superior switching performance, reduced energy loss, and better thermal management, while the T10 PowerTrench Family supports high currents with increased power density.

This solution complies with the Open Rack V3 specifications and automotive standards, indicating robustness and reliability for high-power applications.

Positive

• Potential reduction in global data center energy consumption by 10 TWh annually.
• Enhanced energy efficiency in AI-supported data centers by reducing power losses by 1%.
• Superior switching performance and thermal management with EliteSiC 650V MOSFET.
• T10 PowerTrench Family offers increased power density and superior thermal performance.
• Compliance with Open Rack V3 specifications and automotive standards.
• Reduction in system costs through downsizing of system components and increased operating frequency.

Negative

• High initial implementation costs for adopting new power semiconductor technology.
• Potential technical challenges in integrating the new solutions into existing data center infrastructures.
• Relatively modest energy loss reduction of 1% may not justify the transition for all operators.

Insights

Tech Expert

onsemi’s latest power semiconductor technology addresses a significant challenge in data centers: energy efficiency. With AI workloads driving power consumption through the roof, the T10 PowerTrench® family and EliteSiC 650V MOSFETs are a notable advancement. By halving the gate charge and reducing output capacitance by 44%, these components offer superior switching performance. This means that data centers can operate more efficiently, reducing power losses and thermal issues.

The ability to downsize system components while increasing operating frequency is particularly valuable. This allows for a more compact design, which is important for modern data centers that need to maximize space and efficiency. Additionally, meeting the Open Rack V3 (ORV3) specifications is essential for compatibility with hyperscale operators, meaning that this solution is not just advanced, but also broadly applicable.

Overall, this technological leap could lead to substantial energy savings, reducing the carbon footprint of data centers globally.

Market Research Analyst

Data centers are notorious for their energy consumption, especially with the rise of AI. onsemi’s new power solutions could lead to significant cost savings. Reducing power losses by 1% might seem small, but on a global scale, it translates to 10 TWh annually. This kind of efficiency means lower operational costs and a positive environmental impact.

The economic benefits are clear: Lower energy consumption reduces costs, which can improve profit margins for companies running extensive data center operations. Additionally, the smaller footprint of these components can reduce infrastructure costs, allowing for more compact and efficient data center designs.

While these advantages are promising, adoption will depend on the technology's integration ease and upfront costs. However, the long-term savings could easily justify initial investments.

Latest power semiconductor technology offers massive energy savings, power reduction of up to 10 TeraWatts

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- What’s New: As data centers become increasingly power-hungry to support the tremendous processing requirements of AI workloads, the need for boosting energy efficiency is paramount. The powerful combination of onsemi’s latest generation T10 PowerTrench^® family and EliteSiC 650V MOSFETs create a solution that offers unparalleled efficiency and high thermal performance in a smaller footprint for data center applications.

onsemi's AI power solution (Graphic: Business Wire)

Why It Matters: Compared to a typical search engine request, an AI-supported engine request requires more than 10x the power, leading to data center power needs expected to reach an estimated 1,000 TWh globally in less than two years¹. To process one AI-supported request, energy is converted four times from the grid to the processor, which can result in an energy loss of approximately 12%. Using the T10 PowerTrench family and EliteSiC 650V solution, data centers are able to reduce power losses that occur by an estimated 1%. If implemented in data centers globally, the solution could reduce energy consumption by 10 TWh annually or the equivalent of the energy required to fully power nearly one million homes per year².

How It Works: The EliteSiC 650V MOSFET offers superior switching performance and lower device capacitances to achieve higher efficiency in data centers and energy storage systems. Compared to the previous generation, these new generation silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs have halved the gate charge and reduced both the energy stored in output capacitance (Eoss) and the output charge (Qoss) by 44%. With no tail current during turn-off and superior performance at high temperatures, they can also significantly reduce switching losses compared to super junction (SJ) MOSFETs. This allows customers to downsize system components while increasing the operating frequency, resulting in an overall reduction in system costs.

Separately, the T10 PowerTrench Family is engineered to handle high currents, crucial for DC-DC power conversion stages, and offers increased power density and superior thermal performance in a compact footprint. This is achieved through a shield gate trench design, which boasts an ultra-low gate charge and an RDS (on) of less than 1 milliohm. Additionally, the soft recovery body diode and lower Qrr effectively minimizes ringing, overshoots, and electrical noise to ensure optimal performance, reliability, and robustness under stress. The T10 PowerTrench Family also meets the stringent standards required for automotive applications.

The combined solution also meets the stringent Open Rack V3 (ORV3) base specification required by hyperscale operators to support the next generation of high-power processors.

“AI and electrification are reshaping our world and skyrocketing power demands. Accelerating innovation in power semiconductors to improve energy efficiency is key to enabling these technological megatrends. This is how we power the future responsibly,” said Simon Keeton, group president, Power Solutions Group, onsemi. “Our latest solution can significantly reduce power losses that occur during the energy conversion process and have a meaningful impact on the demands for the next generation of data centers.”

More Information:

• T10 PowerTrench Family
• EliteSiC 650V MOSFETs
• onsemi AI data center solution guide
• onsemi product recommendation tool
• Simulate with Elite Power Simulator and Self-Service PLECS Model Generator

About onsemi

onsemi (Nasdaq: ON) is driving disruptive innovations to help build a better future. With a focus on automotive and industrial end-markets, the company is accelerating change in megatrends such as vehicle electrification and safety, sustainable energy grids, industrial automation, and 5G and cloud infrastructure. onsemi offers a highly differentiated and innovative product portfolio, delivering intelligent power and sensing technologies that solve the world’s most complex challenges and leads the way to creating a safer, cleaner and smarter world. onsemi is recognized as a Fortune 500^® company and included in the Nasdaq-100 Index^® and S&P 500^® index. Learn more about onsemi at www.onsemi.com.

onsemi and the onsemi logo are trademarks of Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC. All other brand and product names appearing in this document are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.

¹ IEA report, Electricity 2024
² Based on annual household power consumption from U.S. Energy Information Administration

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240605090325/en/

Krystal Heaton

Director, Head of Public Relations

onsemi

(480) 242-6943

Krystal.Heaton@onsemi.com

Source: onsemi

FAQ

What new power solutions has onsemi unveiled for data centers?

onsemi has introduced the T10 PowerTrench® family and EliteSiC 650V MOSFETs to enhance energy efficiency in data centers.

How much energy could onsemi's new solution save annually in data centers?

The new solution could potentially save 10 TWh of energy annually in global data centers.

What improvements do the EliteSiC 650V MOSFETs offer for data centers?

The EliteSiC 650V MOSFETs offer superior switching performance, reduced energy loss, and better thermal management.

How does the T10 PowerTrench Family improve power efficiency?

The T10 PowerTrench Family supports high currents, increases power density, and offers superior thermal performance.

What standards does onsemi's new power solution meet?

The solution complies with the Open Rack V3 specifications and automotive standards.