TDK has disclosed an investment in Aston Power, a North Carolina-based company focused on rapid deployment of clean and reliable energy for hyperscale data centres and other large industrial power users.
The Japanese electronics company’s investment was made through its corporate venture capital arm, TDK Ventures.
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Aston Power aims to address prolonged power connection timelines that have become a significant barrier for expanding AI and high-performance computing data centres.
The company has developed a private power network platform intended to deliver utility-grade electricity within two to three years. This compares to the five- to ten-year timelines typical of traditional grid connections.
Aston Power’s solution features modular, scalable infrastructure. It can function independently or in conjunction with the existing grid, making it possible to support the growing power demands of AI-driven operations.
The collaboration will combine Aston Power’s “software-defined” utility platform with TDK’s experience in power engineering and electronic components.
The companies seek to provide an energy solution that meets the speed, reliability, and cost expectations of hyperscale data centre operators.
TDK Ventures president Nicolas Sauvage said: “The AI boom is pushing the current grid paradigm to the brink. We invested in Aston Power because they provide the ‘hard trifecta’ of hyperscaler’s demand: speed to power, grid-like reliability, and acceptable cost—all backed by a formal, enforceable Service Level Agreement (SLA).”
Aston Power’s development pipeline covers 2GW of potential capacity, with initial sites proposed in Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico.
The company’s platform manages a mix of energy assets, optimising supply in real time using both grid and on-site resources such as solar power, battery storage, and natural gas. This approach is designed to ensure 99.9% power availability at the substation level.
Aston Power co-founder and CEO Greg Robinson said: “Our vision is to evolve the way power is managed across vast networks, creating energy infrastructure that is more resilient, affordable, sustainable, and highly scalable.
“Partnering with TDK Ventures provides us with far more than just expertise in components; it gives us deep insight across the entire power electronics value chain—from advanced sensors and energy storage to passives—and provides access to a global ecosystem that will accelerate our path to mass production.”
