Tokyo, Japan, October 13, 2025- Renesas Electronics Corporation has announced its next-generation Gallium Nitride (GaN) Field-Effect Transistor (FET) switches, designed to support NVIDIA’s high-efficiency 800 Volt Direct Current (DC) architecture. This collaboration addresses the escalating power demands of GPU-driven AI workloads, promising higher efficiency, reduced energy losses, and increased density for AI data centers.
The new GaN FET switches enable efficient DC/DC conversion from 48V up to 400V, with stacking capability up to 800V. Using bi-directional GaN switches in the AC/DC front-end, the technology simplifies rectifier design, enhances power density, and reduces distribution losses. Combined with NVIDIA’s 800V DC architecture, the system aims to improve end-to-end efficiency by up to 5%, cut cooling costs, and reduce maintenance overhead by up to 70%.
“AI is transforming industries at an unprecedented pace, and the power infrastructure must evolve just as quickly to meet the explosive power demands,” said Zaher Baidas, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Power at Renesas. “Renesas is helping power the future of AI with high-density energy solutions built for scale, supported by our full portfolio of GaN FETs, MOSFETs, controllers, and drivers. These innovations will deliver performance and efficiency, with the scalability required for future growth.”
Renesas’ GaN solutions facilitate 800V DC buses within data center racks, reducing the need for large bus bars while still supporting the reuse of 48V components via DC/DC step-down converters. This compact, high-density power distribution approach enables data centers to scale efficiently while lowering the total cost of ownership and environmental impact.
The collaboration highlights a broader industry trend toward high-voltage DC architectures and advanced semiconductor technologies, driven by the explosive growth of AI workloads. Hyperscale cloud operators, AI research facilities, and enterprises running intensive AI training workloads are expected to benefit significantly from these innovations, gaining both operational efficiency and sustainability advantages.
