Voltserver

VoltServer Inc. designs and manufactures fault-managed power (FMP) transmission products sold under the Digital Electricity brand. The patented approach transmits electricity as small pulses, or "packets," that are individually checked for safety and can carry embedded data, allowing power at hundreds of volts and thousands of watts to be distributed in a form the company describes as not harmful to human touch and without producing a fire hazard, with hazardous current interrupted within milliseconds. Systems combine hardware transmitters and receivers with monitoring and control software.

Power can be run through existing data pathways or in hybrid cables alongside fiber optics, which the company positions as reducing installation disruption, permitting requirements in some regions, commodity cost and electrical room footprint. VoltServer markets integrated end-to-end systems across six industry segments: service provider networks (5G and Wi-Fi remote power), transportation networks, enterprise buildings and campuses, industrial and manufacturing, data centers, and building electrification. Recent published material focuses on using Digital Electricity to add AI server racks to operational data centers with limited disruption and on the role of fault-managed power in AI infrastructure cost management.

The company is headquartered in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, and works through power and connectivity partners, including a partnership with Eaton aimed at critical infrastructure.

Founding story

Founder and CEO Stephen Eaves, who previously founded Modular Energy Devices (ModEnergy), a lithium-ion battery supplier to the telecom industry acquired by EnerSys in 2011, and who holds 15 issued or pending patents in energy storage and power conversion, set out to make electricity inherently safe. Drawing on more than 20 years in the industry, he incorporated VoltServer in 2011. Dan Lowe is listed as co-founder and Chief Business Officer, with a background in carrier Internet infrastructure companies including Arris Networks and Redstone Communications.

Business model

VoltServer manufactures and sells fault-managed power transmission hardware and accompanying monitoring and control software, delivered as integrated end-to-end systems in conjunction with power and connectivity partners and third-party manufacturers that integrate the technology into their devices.

Sales of Digital Electricity hardware systems and associated software for power distribution deployments.

Traction

As of the April 2023 Series B announcement, the company reported tens of thousands of installed circuits in buildings including NFL stadiums, smart hotels and indoor vertical farms. The company's history page states Digital Electricity powers over 1,000 large sports stadiums, office towers, hotels, condominiums and medical buildings; an earlier about page cited over 700 large venues and intelligent buildings.

Latest developments

The company promotes a partnership with Eaton to bring Digital Electricity to critical infrastructure and has published material on applying fault-managed power to AI data centers, including low-disruption installation of AI server racks in operational facilities.