• GridAssist combines battery storage and power conversion, while GridLink AC uses medium-voltage UPS to isolate large data centre loads from the grid
  • GridLink DC is planned for 2027, targeting 800VDC power for next-generation AI data centres

The fact

SMA Solar Technology introduced a three-part power portfolio for AI and hyperscale data centres on 26 August as it expands its Large Scale and Project Solutions business into the data centre market. GridAssist combines battery storage, power conversion and controls for grid-connected sites, while GridLink AC uses a medium-voltage UPS architecture to decouple large data-centre loads from the grid.

SMA America says its power-conversion and storage systems can also support islanded or microgrid sites, where inverter controls smooth rapid changes in computing load before they reach generators. The company says this can reduce generator cycling and improve operating efficiency. A third product, GridLink DC, is planned for deployment in 2027 and is designed around 800VDC power for next-generation AI infrastructure. SMA has not named customers or data-centre projects using the new portfolio.

The assessment

Securing enough megawatts is only part of the power problem for AI data centres. Accelerator loads can change quickly, and in an islanded system those swings would otherwise pass directly to the generators. SMA is using batteries and inverter controls to smooth the load before it reaches them.

That matters for developers considering islanded or microgrid power. Storage and power-conversion equipment have to be designed around how the computing load behaves, not simply the site's peak demand. Smoother demand can reduce the amount of rapid adjustment required from generators and help them operate more steadily.

For BTW readers, speed to power is therefore not just about securing generation. The site also needs a power system that can handle rapid changes in AI demand without passing the full strain onto the grid or on-site generators.

What to watch

Watch for named US data-centre projects using GridAssist or GridLink AC, particularly deployments that disclose battery capacity, generator configuration or grid-interconnection requirements. GridLink DC's planned 2027 deployment will provide another test: customer adoption and technical specifications will show whether SMA's portfolio moves from product positioning into deployed AI infrastructure.