Expect to burn as much as with data centers 12% By 2028, technology companies will be the source of electricity generation in the US. It's no wonder they're looking for electricity. Nuclear, It is renewable.Or something else entirely. But solar emits different currents than a nuclear plant, and combining the various power sources is challenging.
“We'll have about 90 gigawatts (of data centers) globally by 2023, and that will increase to over 185 gigawatts by 2028, so it's just around the corner,” Amperesand CEO Gary Lawrence told TechCrunch.
Today's devices Transformers that convert power from one format to another are task specific. Ampereand It's betting that its technology is better and more efficient.
At its core, Amperesand's technology replaces the iron cores of old transformers with silicon carbide. Existing transformers follow the same basic design that has worked well for over a century, but they have shortcomings. For one, They do not perform well in regulating currents and dips in voltage or frequency. Also, they need to be tailored to the type of electricity you want to transform.
It promises to replace solid-state transformers made of silicon carbide. “The solid-state transformer platform is multi-port by design. It's modular,” said Brian Dow, Amperesand's chief product officer.
“We can do different AC levels, AC to AC, AC to DC. We can natively combine DC sources like photovoltaic (solar) and batteries. We can combine turbines, small modular reactors. Basically, we can seamlessly switch between them, so if there's a problem with the grid, you can back up and come back online.”
Amperesand is in the process of raising a Series A after landing a Series A. Last year's seed round was $12.5 millionThe company told TechCrunch exclusively. “We've just launched Series A, and it's moving really quickly,” said Phil Inagaki, managing partner at Temasek's Xora Innovations. The company is targeting data centers as well as EV charging and grid applications, where the technology's solid-state makes it easier to control with software. A 6 MW transformer was demonstrated last year.
Xora hatched Amperesand, and Inagaki led the company in its initial formation. Recently, With some funding and a solid strategy, Lawrence, the company's chief technology officer; A new leadership team was handed over, including Dow and Tommy Joyner.
The Singapore-based startup is also working to open an office in the US to be closer to the larger market and tap into local talent. Both Dow and Joyner, for example, hesitated on Tesla and Generac.
“The U.S. is still an amazing talent pool that we can capture,” Inagaki said. “We have some places in Singapore; But it can't be done so quickly. Of course these skills are a big factor.”