Energy storage firm Skeleton Technologies has developed a new power shelf for data centers that uses graphene-based supercapacitors.

The company has launched GrapheneGPU, a peak-shaving capacity shelf that ditches Lithium for supercapacitor energy storage based on Skeleton Technologies’ patented Curved Graphene technology.

The shelf can manage power fluctuations that occur with GPU use. Skeleton said many data centers rely on artificial loads (aka dummy loads) during idle phases to maintain a constant power draw. While this helps stabilize operations, the approach leads to significant energy losses, with the company saying up to 45 percent of energy can be wasted as heat. GrapheneGPU stores energy during idle periods and releases it during peak demand, effectively smoothing out the fluctuations. This eliminates the need for dummy loads, reduces cooling requirements

The 1U PCS 50 offers 60kW peak power in a 48-volt DC system, while the 4U PCS 400 offers 160kW peak power in a 400-volt DC system. Both are available in both air and liquid-cooled options.

Initial shipments from the company’s German site are scheduled for June 2025. US manufacturing expansion is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.

Curved Graphene is a proprietary material that Skeleton said can increase supercapacitor performance with greater energy densities compared to traditional materials.

The company said traditional graphene, a flat layer of carbon atoms, differs from Curved Graphene, which resembles a crumpled sheet of paper with more exposed surfaces and edges, allowing for increased energy storage. The material is produced by Skeleton Materials at the Bitterfeld-Wolfen chemical park in Germany.

“As AI computing and energy demands double annually, AI data centers are facing a critical bottleneck. GrapheneGPU delivers up to 40 percent more computing with the same energy footprint, while cutting both capital and operating costs by reducing grid upgrade needs, energy waste, and cooling, said Taavi Madiberk, CEO of Skeleton Technologies. “Powered by our patented Curved Graphene, this is a fundamental shift in how AI infrastructure can scale — sustainably and economically.”

Founded in 2009, Skeleton offers battery storage solutions utilizing its graphene-based batteries. The company also offers the SkelGrid supercapacitor-based energy storage system, which can offer up to 3MW in a single rack as well as larger modules. The company says it has more than 100MW of grid and industrial installations globally.

Investors in the firm include Siemens Financial Services (SFS), Marubeni Corporation, FirstFloor Capital, and EIT InnoEnergy.