ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) is launching a direct-current (DC) data center testbed in Singapore.

The company this week announced the launch of the FutureGrid Accelerator, Southeast Asia’s first live High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)-powered AI infrastructure testbed.

Located at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) Electrification and Power Grids Centre (EPGC) on Jurong Island, STT said the accelerator is the region’s first live testbed demonstrating HVDC integration with real AI workloads, “addressing the high-density and high-resiliency requirements of next-generation AI computing.”

The accelerator is an initiative jointly developed by STT GDC and Liteon, supported by the Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) and NTU spin-off Amperesand.

Chips inside servers actually generally run on DC power, but data centers receive and distribute the power in alternating current (AC). This leads to a merry-go-round of AC/DC swapovers, creating inefficiencies and losses. As hyperscalers look towards higher rack densities - including up to 1MW rack designs - companies are exploring DC distribution as a way to remove those inefficiencies and reduce energy loss. Solar and wind farms, and many fuel cells, also push out DC power, so colocated or behind-the-meter type deployments could benefit from fewer conversions.

As well as supporting higher-density racks, STT said HVDC offers greater energy savings compared to traditional AC power systems, leading to CO2 savings and less copper used within a smaller footprint.

“The FutureGrid Accelerator is a strategic investment in Singapore's long-term digital leadership,” said Bruno Lopez, president and group CEO, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres. “By bringing together global industry leaders like Liteon with local deep-tech talent such as Amperesand, we are building infrastructure that is ready for future AI workloads while pioneering sustainable practices and setting new benchmarks for energy efficiency and carbon-conscious innovation. This initiative reflects our commitment to future-ready technologies and reinforces Singapore’s position as a global center of excellence for advanced sustainable digital infrastructure. It is a bold step forward in shaping the future of data centres and accelerating energy transition across the region.”

The accelerator will validate HVDC system performance at power loads of at least 325kW. The environment incorporates Liteon’s data center reference architecture with Amperesand’s Solid State Transformer (SST) technology.

STT GDC plans to deploy this technology in future data centers in Singapore, before scaling across its global operations.

Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs & Trade and Industry, added: “The FutureGrid Accelerator demonstrates how industry and academia can work together to drive innovation and strengthen Singapore’s global leadership in cutting-edge technologies. I also welcome STT GDC’s partnerships with ITE and SP, which will add to the suite of training options for the rapidly growing areas of AI and energy-efficient systems.”

STT GDC has also signed MoUs with the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), Singapore Polytechnic (SP), NTU Singapore, and National University of Singapore (NUS) to expand the data center talent pool in the city-state.

The company said the agreements will help more than 8,000 Singaporeans over five years through industry-aligned training in AI infrastructure and sustainable energy systems, with internships, training, seminars, mentorships, and other events.

“The program offers immersive, hands-on experience in data center operations and corporate functions such as IT, sustainability, finance, and marketing, supported by mentoring from industry professionals,” STT said.