HTS data centre power distribution signals industrial maturity of fusion-derived technology

Tokamak Energy’s HTS magnet systems are wound from REBCO superconducting tape – the same technology now being assessed for high-temperature superconductor data centre power distribution

(Image courtesy of Tokamak Energy)

A new feasibility study shows that high-temperature superconducting technology developed for fusion is now credible for industrial deployment in data centre power distribution – cutting busway-level power losses by up to 90% and unlocking up to 9% more IT capacity in the same grid footprint. The study, conducted by Tokamak Energy and data centre infrastructure specialist The BE Company (+BE), marks a significant step in the commercialisation of fusion-derived HTS technology into high-demand power environments beyond the reactor.

HTS power distribution could transform data centre economics

Modelled on a 10 MW data centre, the study assessed REBCO (rare-earth barium copper oxide) technology as a direct replacement for copper across the power distribution infrastructure. The results are significant across multiple dimensions. Power density improves by up to 3.5 times, while system efficiency rises from approximately 90% to 99%. Over a 15-year operating life, total cost of ownership falls by up to 50%.

Conventional copper-based systems face growing constraints as rack and cluster densities increase. Heat generation, physical bulk, weight, and efficiency losses all compound as facilities scale. HTS technology addresses these problems at their root. Near-zero electrical resistance and high current density mean far less excess heat is produced. Targeted cryogenic cooling and modular, plug-in system architectures reduce both operating costs and physical infrastructure requirements.

The environmental case is equally strong. Replacing copper with REBCO superconductors could reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 90%, driven primarily by lower power losses and reduced demand for atmospheric cooling. Water consumption falls by millions of litres as cooling requirements drop. Copper displacement reaches up to 98%, reducing reliance on a material facing increasing supply constraints.

Industrial scaling and deployment pathways examined

The study examined all aspects of a fully integrated HTS data centre power system. Scope included cryogenic system requirements, thermal management at high current densities, scalability for next-generation computing workloads, deployment timelines, and total cost of ownership. This breadth of analysis reflects the practical orientation of the collaboration, which focuses on deployable architectures and realistic cost profiles rather than theoretical performance limits.

Tokamak Energy, which has developed HTS technology for over a decade through its fusion programme, is bringing that industrial scaling experience to bear on the data centre sector through its TE Magnetics division. The partnership with +BE connects that superconductor expertise with specialist knowledge of data centre infrastructure delivery.

Results from the study were presented jointly at the 2026 Open Compute Project EMEA Summit in Barcelona in April, an event focused on compute, power, and infrastructure. The audience of hyperscale operators, engineers, and infrastructure specialists represents the procurement and deployment community that would bring HTS power distribution from feasibility to commercial deployment.

Liam Brennan, Director of TE Magnetics, described the study as demonstrating the transformative potential of HTS for high-demand power environments and linked the technology’s development to UK ambitions for energy resilience, digital infrastructure, and economic growth. Sath Ganesarajah, CEO of +BE, said the collaboration had shown how superconducting power distribution could enable high-density, AI-native data centres, with a practical focus on delivery pathways and cost profiles.

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