Mountain View, CA-based startup DC Grid officially launches today to address the escalating power demands of AI (artificial intelligence) data centers and EV (electric vehicle) charging hubs identified in a recent McKinsey & Company report by overcoming delays and inefficiencies in traditional AC utility systems. The new provider of off-grid DC-based energy solutions says its technology empowers energy-intensive industries to electrify faster, cleaner, and more sustainable.

“Today’s transmission and distribution roadblocks threaten the progress of many energy-intensive industries especially data centers and EV charging hubs,” said Vic Shao, Founder and CEO of DC Grid. “By providing off-grid modular solutions, DC Grid will enable access to reliable energy in weeks or months, instead of years.”

Shao is a recognized cleantech leader and three-time entrepreneur with nearly two decades of experience transforming the energy landscape. Through his previous ventures in the charging and storage sectors, including Green Charge Networks acquired by Engie and Amply Power acquired by BP, he identified critical delay challenges, often measured in years, to interconnect power generation with loads. Determined to overcome similar bottlenecks again, he launched his new venture to revolutionize power delivery.

DC Grid’s energy system brings together energy sourcing, hardware, and software. The solution features above-ground raceways and wiring, eliminating the need for traditional construction. By using DC wiring throughout, it bypasses utility transformer requirements, switchgear, and AC equipment and allows for onsite assembly without construction in just days, completely removing the need for electric utility involvement.

The use of modular DC technology means the off-grid drop-in system eliminates the reliance on AC transformers and switchgear, significantly cutting energy losses, achieving up to 20% savings in power conversions and 33% in transmission and distribution. It also speeds deployment, with interconnection-free power delivery in 3 months for EV hubs and 12-18 months for AI data centers, bypassing the five-year delays often associated with utility upgrades for large-scale projects. Because these power systems are assembled onsite above-ground without digging or trenching, building permitting is simpler and may qualify under “temporary use,” depending on the jurisdiction.

DC Grid offers a range of energy-generation options including solar and storage, RNG (renewable natural gas), and biogas. For rural areas, the solar and storage option leverages DC-based technology to maximize land use at 4 acres per MW DC. In dense urban settings, RNG and biogas provide flexible solutions with the ability to deliver onsite in compressed form or integrated directly into existing pipeline infrastructure.

For EV hub deployments, the company says it has developed the only commercially available DC-powered DC fast charger, resulting in minimal energy losses for cost savings, enhanced efficiency, and reduced infrastructure complexity. The Authentix 300-kW DC/DC fast charger is an ultra-compact dual-cable unit supporting both NACS and CCS charging standards to accommodate new and legacy EVs.

In data-center applications, it offers a 1500-V power shelf to deliver DC directly into a building, reducing copper wire sizes, minimizing waste heat, and achieving 99% efficiency. This approach supports the operational needs of high-energy data centers that are expected to grow annually by 19% to 22% between 2023 and 2030, reaching a total demand of 171 to 219 GW per year, according to McKinsey.

DC Grid operates on an infrastructure-as-a-service pricing model to offer cost-effective, scalable solutions tailored to clients’ needs. Currently, it has memoranda of understanding for six sites across the U.S.