10C lithium titanium oxide battery aims to keep data center grid fluctuations below 1%

A new battery platform from DIMAAG-AI and Toshiba is designed to handle the rapid power swings of AI data centers while providing backup power and grid support. The companies are combining Toshiba’s SCiB lithium titanium oxide (LTO) batteries with DIMAAG’s ZettaWatt Power Platform, which integrates energy storage, power conversion and real-time controls. The system is designed for continuous 10C charging and discharging and a targeted service life of more than 10 years. It can also smooth cyclic power fluctuations from computing workloads to less than 1% as seen by the grid. Toshiba says more than 100 million SCiB cells have been shipped since 2010, giving the battery technology more than a decade of field experience that the companies aim to apply to high-duty-cycle data center applications. Batteries handle rapid swings The need for such systems comes from the changing power demand of large computing facilities. Unlike conventional loads, computing workloads can cause power consumption to rise and fall rapidly, creating challenges for both the data center and the electricity grid. DIMAAG’s ZettaWatt platform uses a modular grid-to-800 VDC architecture to manage these changes. Multiple units can be deployed in parallel as a data center campus expands. The platform is designed for several functions beyond conventional backup power. These include load smoothing, low-voltage ride-through, demand response and grid stabilization. The battery system uses DIMAAG’s active-flow immersion-cooled Zenius modules. Toshiba will supply the SCiB cells, while DIMAAG will design, manufacture and integrate the battery system into the ZettaWatt platform. “Energy storage in an AI data center must do far more than bridge an outage. It must absorb rapid load swings, support grid ride-through, provide backup power and respond repeatedly without becoming a constraint on the system,” said Ian Wright, CTO of DIMAAG and Tesla co-founder. He added, “Combining Toshiba’s established SCiB battery cell technology into DIMAAG’s active-flow immersion-cooled Zenius modules within the ZettaWatt Power Platform delivers differentiated performance for high-power, high-duty-cycle requirements of AI data centers.” Power systems scale with demand The 10C capability is central to the system’s intended use. A 10C rate means the battery can theoretically charge or discharge its rated capacity in roughly one-tenth of an hour, or about six minutes, under the specified operating conditions. The companies say the SCiB cells can sustain both 10C charging and 10C discharging with an appropriately designed cooling system. That capability is intended to help the system repeatedly respond to short-duration changes in electricity demand without relying solely on the grid. The platform also meets ERCOT’s low-voltage ride-through requirements, according to DIMAAG. This allows it to continue supporting the facility during certain grid disturbances rather than simply disconnecting. “This collaboration demonstrates how Toshiba SCiB technology can support the next generation of AI infrastructure through continuous 10C charging and discharging capability, exceptional cycle life, and a proven safety track record,” said Greg Mack, senior vice president and general manager of Toshiba International Corporation’s Power Electronics Division. The companies say the collaboration will expand SCiB-based energy storage into high-power applications where frequent cycling, rapid response, and long operating life are important. The capabilities remain subject to ongoing design, testing and validation.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.