High-density demand is driving upgrades to power distribution solutions, with busbars emerging as a standout choice.

With the deepening implementation of the “East Data, West Computing” initiative and the explosive growth of cloud computing and AI technologies, data centers are accelerating their evolution toward larger scale and higher density. Cabinet power density has surged from the traditional 6 kW per cabinet to over 12 kW, rendering the conventional distribution model—comprising rack-mounted distribution units and cable-based wiring—increasingly ill-equipped to address the multifaceted challenges of space utilization, flexible capacity expansion, and energy-efficiency management. Against this backdrop, the intelligent microgrid distribution model, with its core advantages of modular design, high flexibility, and intelligent monitoring, has emerged as the mainstream new solution for end-of-row power distribution in data centers, effectively resolving the industry’s key pain points associated with high-density power supply.

Modular core design that adapts to rapid business adjustment needs.

The micro-busbar distribution system is a dedicated solution for end-of-line busbar power distribution in data centers, comprising core components such as the feeder module, busbar trunk, plug-in distribution units, and monitoring modules. It employs a “trunk-and-branch” distribution topology, enabling direct power delivery to cabinet PDUs without the need for a row-end distribution cabinet. Its modular design is key to handling high-density power provisioning: the busbar trunk is prefabricated and can be flexibly configured into standard 2.4-meter or 1.8-meter modules based on the data center layout, paired with plug-and-play distribution units to facilitate rapid load connection and adjustment—and even support online switching between single-phase and three-phase loads—thus fully meeting the demands of frequently changing business requirements. Compared with traditional solutions, micro-busbar deployment time is reduced by more than 60%, with installation of a standard data center module taking only 5–10 days, whereas the conventional row-end cabinet plus cable approach typically requires 15–30 days.

Dual excellence in space utilization and energy efficiency, fortifying the safety barrier for high-density power supply

In high-density environments, the space-efficiency advantages of busbar trunking systems are particularly pronounced. Traditional row-end distribution cabinets typically occupy 10%–15% of the data center floor space, whereas busbar trunking systems are horizontally installed above the server racks, directly freeing up rack positions that would otherwise be occupied by such cabinets and enabling a 5%–10% increase in the number of IT racks. For example, in a data center with 1,000 racks, adopting busbar trunking could add 50 additional racks; at an annual rental profit of RMB 20,000 per rack, this translates into an additional annual revenue of RMB 1 million. Moreover, busbar trunking systems feature an aluminum-alloy enclosure, Class B insulating sheathing, and high-purity copper busbars with a copper content of ≥99.98%, while their heat-dissipation surface area is more than three times that of conventional cables. This design effectively mitigates heat buildup under high-density power distribution, reduces the risk of short circuits, and boasts a service life of 30–40 years—two to three times longer than that of traditional cables.

Intelligent monitoring empowers and significantly enhances power supply stability and O&M efficiency.

Intelligent monitoring capabilities further ensure the stability of high-density power supply. Leading busbar systems are equipped with smart monitoring modules such as the AMB series, which can collect real-time electrical parameters including three-phase voltage, current, power, and harmonic content, as well as environmental data like busbar connection temperature (measurement range: −20°C to 200°C, accuracy ±1%) and data center temperature and humidity. This data is transmitted via RS485/Modbus-RTU or LoRa communication to the infrastructure monitoring center. When conditions such as overcurrent, overvoltage, or abnormal temperature are detected, the system immediately triggers audible and visual alarms, with fault location accuracy at the circuit level. As a result, the mean time to repair (MTTR) has been reduced from the traditional two hours to less than 15 minutes. In a financial data center project in the Yangtze River Delta, the busbar system increased cabinet density from 6 kW per cabinet to 12 kW per cabinet while reducing PUE from 1.45 to 1.28, achieving annual energy savings of 3.8 million kWh.

Driven by both policy and technology, the application prospects for busbars are promising.

At the policy level, the national “dual carbon” strategy and the mandatory requirement that data center PUE not exceed 1.25 have further accelerated the adoption of busbar distribution systems. Currently, this approach is widely deployed in key “East Data, West Computing” hub projects such as the Xiong’an Supercomputing Center and the China Unicom Zhongwei Data Center in Ningxia, as well as in high-density data centers across industries like finance and the internet. With the integration of technologies such as fluorinated coolant-based thermal management and AI-driven workload forecasting, busbar distribution is evolving from passive power distribution to proactive, intelligent management. In the future, it will deliver even greater value in liquid-cooled data centers and edge computing nodes, serving as a core enabler for the green transformation of data center infrastructure.