DC Power: Rethinking energy

In the latest episode of the EU Energy Projects Podcast, I spoke with Jens Merten of CEA, coordinator of the EU-funded DC Power project, about how medium voltage DC grids could transform the way energy is distributed and consumed across industrial sites, data centres and future large-scale electrification projects.

While DC technology is already familiar in everyday devices such as smartphones and laptops, DC Power is taking the concept to a new level. The project is developing a medium voltage DC grid operating at 3kV, designed to connect renewable energy sources, batteries and high power industrial applications more efficiently than conventional alternating current (AC) systems.

The project will demonstrate its technology at two real-scale industrial sites, including a data centre and an electrolyser installation in Greece. By reducing unnecessary power conversions between AC and DC, the consortium aims to significantly improve energy efficiency while lowering material requirements and system complexity.

Beyond efficiency gains, the project is also tackling challenges related to grid stability, interoperability and the development of new medium voltage DC standards. These efforts could prove crucial as Europe seeks to decarbonise energy intensive industries and meet rapidly growing electricity demand from sectors such as data centres and electric mobility.

As Jens noted during the discussion, medium voltage DC grids may still be a new concept, but they could become an essential building block of Europe's industrial energy future.

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Listen to previous episodes:
How BuildON and OpenLab are digitalising buildings and neighbourhoods
E-NERGY Cluster returns to the EU Energy Projects Podcast ahead of EUSEW 2026