Huawei Digital Power has introduced the AIDC 1.0 solution, which facilitates grid interaction for artificial intelligence data centers. The goal of this solution is to unify power, cooling, and construction systems into a single coordinated system focused on computing power.
The presentation took place at the HUAWEI AIDC Facility Summit, held concurrently with the HUAWEI CONNECT 2026 event in Shanghai. New products were also showcased at this event, including uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, energy storage, and liquid cooling.
The main emphasis is placed on grid integration. AI clusters drastically change energy consumption as a large number of devices switch between computation, communication, and standby modes. Furthermore, the growing share of renewable energy sources increases the dependence of grids on power electronics. Bob He, Vice President of Huawei Digital Power, described the evolution of data centers in three stages: network adaptation, network support, and ultimately, the formation of the network itself.
The AIDC 1.0 solution utilizes grid-friendly UPSs, intelligent lithium-ion batteries, and network-forming energy storage systems to smooth out AI load fluctuations and promote grid stabilization. Huawei's long-term goal is to achieve a MIMO power architecture with multiple energy sources, various output formats, and multi-level storage that responds to load changes from microseconds to hours.
The new equipment includes the Taishan 1280 kVA UPS, which fits in a single cabinet with up to 98% double conversion efficiency, as well as the Hengshan DC UPS, supporting 270V, 400V, and 800V direct current systems on one platform. SmartLi 5.0 batteries are designed for the transition to high-voltage 800V DC, and the LUNA2000 storage system supports weak grids and campus-level load smoothing.
In terms of cooling, Huawei is transitioning from traditional refrigerant distribution setups to a Thermal Management Unit (TMU). This unit uses artificial intelligence to detect micro-leaks, predict refrigerant status, and plan maintenance. The TMU is initially adapted for Ascend servers, allowing the cooling system to follow changes in computational load. Huawei management asserts that the link between energy and computing is the main advantage, and the summit stated that the efficiency metric for AI is tokens per watt, not just power utilization efficiency.
Another important aspect is delivery speed. Huawei claims that the PowerPOD 5.0 reduces occupied area by 40% and shortens delivery time from seven days to three. At SenseTime's Lingang intelligent computing center, the expansion to 18 MW utilized prefabricated power modules and SmartLi containerized batteries placed on the roof. This allowed the power distribution system to be completed in 45 days, whereas traditional construction would have taken about three months, freeing up internal space for server placement. SenseTime reported that this facility became the first intelligent computing center to receive 5A certification from the Chinese Academy of Information and Communications Technology for the synergy between computing and power, and that end-to-end optimization increased token output per unit of electricity cost by 80%.