ABB has strengthened its partnership with Applied Digital, a developer specializing in high-performance data centers, to provide the power infrastructure for a new AI Factory campus in North Dakota. This collaboration highlights the urgent need for electrical systems that can meet the high energy demands associated with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and GPU-intensive operations.
The recent order, booked in the fourth quarter of 2025, pertains to medium-voltage electrical architecture for Applied Digital’s Polaris Forge 2 development, located near Harwood, North Dakota. This expansive 300-megawatt campus will be constructed in two phases, with each phase consisting of a 150-megawatt facility, set to commence operations in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Future expansion capabilities are also part of the plan.
As the demand for AI factories continues to rise—facilities designed to support AI training clusters and high-performance computing—there is an increasing need for power systems that are not only efficient but also scalable and reliable.
ABB’s technologies will form the electrical backbone of the Polaris Forge 2 site, enhancing energy efficiency and supporting the project’s goal of achieving a leading low Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE).
Applied Digital envisions this new campus as the evolution of its AI Factory model, emphasizing a combination of high power density, energy efficiency, and operational flexibility. Todd Gale, Chief Development Officer at Applied Digital, stated that the partnership with ABB illustrates their commitment to advancing data center scale and performance.
ABB will provide both low- and medium-voltage systems, focusing on increasing power density while minimizing energy waste and simplifying the deployment process. This collaboration builds on ABB’s Smart Power division’s efforts to modernize electrical infrastructure to accommodate AI workloads, which often exceed the power necessities of conventional cloud and enterprise data centers significantly.
Both Polaris Forge 1 and Polaris Forge 2 will utilize ABB’s HiPerGuard medium-voltage UPS technology and advanced medium-voltage switchgear. Transitioning from traditional low-voltage to medium-voltage control allows for increased power density, simplified cabling, improved reliability, and the ability to deploy power in larger increments—crucial factors for hyperscale AI operations.
Recently, Applied Digital announced that the initial 200 megawatts of the new Polaris Forge 2 site has been leased to a major U.S.-based hyperscaler, illustrating the robust market demand for real estate optimized for AI applications.
In addressing the unique requirements of AI factories, it is noted that these facilities operate at extreme power densities, significantly higher than those of standard cloud data centers, which necessitates advanced power distribution and high-efficiency conversion systems.
Additionally, the use of medium-voltage UPS technology contributes to reduced energy loss and heightened reliability, enabling scalability in power delivery—critical for AI systems that often exceed 100 MW in capacity. Efficient electrical distribution and cooling systems play a pivotal role in achieving lower PUE values even at high rack densities, thereby underpinning the operational sustainability of these facilities.
The surge in demand for AI factories is driven by advancements in generative AI, large language model training, and GPU-intensive applications, prompting hyperscalers to seek out extensive campuses optimized for AI processes.
In conclusion, ABB’s partnership with Applied Digital signifies a vital step toward creating robust, scalable power infrastructures that not only support high-performance AI workloads but also align with sustainability objectives by improving energy efficiency and integrating renewable energy sources more effectively.
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