Enphase Advances IQ Solid-State Transformer Development for AI Data Centers with Power Modules Now Being Built in Texas
Enphase starts U.S. production of IQ SST power modules for 800 VDC AI data centers, targeting megawatt-scale demos in 2026 and pilots in 2027.
Rhea-AI Summary
Enphase Energy (ENPH) is now building 4 kW power modules in Texas for its IQ Solid-State Transformer (IQ SST) racks for AI data centers.
The IQ SST rack is being developed to convert medium-voltage AC (13.8–34.5 kV) directly to 800 VDC with sub-millisecond response to dynamic AI loads, reducing the need for local battery buffering near compute racks. Hundreds of 4 kW modules can be combined for rack capacities up to 5 MW, forming a distributed solid-state transformer architecture. Each module uses a proprietary high-frequency transformer, gallium nitride (GaN) switching and Enphase’s fifth-generation Kestrel ASIC for high-speed control, sensing, communications, protection and security. The modules share form-factor and process commonality with Enphase’s latest IQ Microinverters, leveraging a U.S. manufacturing capacity of about 12 million microinverters annually to scale IQ SST output to tens of gigawatts. Full-system demonstrations are expected in November 2026, with customer pilots planned for 2027.
Positive
- 4 kW power modules now in production in Texas for full-scale IQ SST racks
- IQ SST racks designed to scale to 5 MW capacity per rack
- Enphase has shipped about 89.4 million microinverters, supporting high-volume know-how
- U.S. manufacturing capacity of about 12 million microinverters annually
- IQ SST manufacturing model is designed to scale to tens of gigawatts annually
- Full-system IQ SST rack demonstrations expected in November 2026, with customer pilots in 2027
Negative
- None.
Key Figures
- Power module rating
- 4 kW
- IQ SST power modules being built in Texas
- Rack capacity
- up to 5 MW
- IQ SST racks for AI data centers
- Medium-voltage input range
- 13.8 kV to 34.5 kV
- System-level validation
- Cumulative microinverter shipments
- approximately 89.4 million
- Enphase shipment history
- U.S. manufacturing capacity
- approximately 12 million microinverters annually
- Enphase U.S. manufacturing footprint
- Full-system demonstrations
- November 2026
- Expected IQ SST rack demonstrations
- Customer pilots
- 2027
- Planned IQ SST customer pilots
Previous AI Reports
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Enphase outlined U.S. manufacturing plans for IQ SST AI data-center infrastructure.
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Enphase detailed IQ SST architecture, modules, Kestrel control, and GaN switching.
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Enphase announced IQ SST development for 800 VDC AI data-center racks.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Key Terms
solid-state transformer technical
gallium nitride technical
asic technical
foreign entity of concern (feoc) regulatory
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
4 kW power modules are now being built in Texas for full-scale IQ SST racks
FREMONT, Calif., Sept. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company, today announced that power modules for its IQ® Solid-State Transformer (IQ SST) are now being built in the United States to assemble and validate full-scale IQ SST racks.
The IQ SST rack is being developed for AI data centers as the industry moves toward 800 VDC power architectures. It is designed to convert medium-voltage AC directly to 800 VDC with sub-millisecond response to dynamic AI loads, helping reduce the need for local battery energy buffering near AI compute racks.
The power module is the building block of the IQ SST rack. Hundreds of power modules work together in IQ SST racks with capacities up to 5 MW, creating a distributed solid-state transformer for AI data centers. A video of the power modules coming off the Enphase line in Arlington, Texas, is available here.
“A 4 kW power module is small, but put hundreds of them together and you have a multi-megawatt IQ SST rack,” said Raghu Belur, co-founder and chief product officer at Enphase Energy. “We don’t need to build bigger power-conversion systems. We can scale by repeating the same compact power module, the approach Enphase has used to scale distributed power electronics for decades.”
Enphase is now building the power modules needed to assemble full-scale IQ SST racks and validate the architecture at megawatt scale. Validation spans both power-module and system-level performance, including operation at medium-voltage AC levels from 13.8 kV to 34.5 kV, full-rack electrical and thermal performance, power-conversion efficiency, distributed control and redundancy, and partial-discharge characterization to validate insulation performance.
At the center of each power module is a proprietary high-frequency transformer developed by Enphase’s in-house magnetics team. The transformer carries power across the isolation boundary between the medium- and low-voltage domains, while a fiber-optic link provides the only other connection across that boundary. Enphase’s magnetics team has spent approximately two decades developing high-frequency transformer technology for demanding power-electronics applications.
Each power module also uses gallium nitride (GaN) power-switching technology and Enphase’s custom Kestrel ASIC, its fifth-generation control silicon. Kestrel integrates high-speed power control, sensing, communications, protection, and security, while GaN enables the high-frequency power conversion at the core of the IQ SST architecture.
The power modules share form-factor and process commonality with Enphase’s latest IQ Microinverters, providing a path to highly automated production as the program advances toward commercialization. Enphase has shipped approximately 89.4 million microinverters and has U.S. manufacturing capacity of approximately 12 million microinverters annually. This proven high-volume manufacturing model is designed to scale IQ SST power module manufacturing capacity to tens of gigawatts annually.
Enphase plans to assemble complete IQ SST racks in Texas, as full-system validation progresses. The IQ SST is being developed around Enphase’s U.S. footprint, supporting a domestic, scalable supply chain for AI data center power infrastructure. The supply chain is expected to meet applicable federal requirements, including foreign entity of concern (FEOC) requirements.
Full-system demonstrations of IQ SST racks are expected in November 2026, with customer pilots planned for 2027. To learn more about IQ SST, visit the Enphase website.
About Enphase Energy, Inc.
Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company based in Fremont, CA, is the world's leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, EV chargers, home energy management systems, and virtual power plant (VPP) solutions. Enphase products enable people to harness the sun to make, use, save, and sell their own power, all controlled through the Enphase App. The company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter-based technology and has shipped approximately 89.4 million microinverters, with approximately 5.3 million Enphase-based systems deployed in over 165 countries. For more information, visit https://enphase.com/.
©2026 Enphase Energy, Inc. All rights reserved. Enphase Energy, Enphase, the “e” logo, IQ, and certain other marks listed at https://enphase.com/trademark-usage-guidelines are trademarks or service marks of Enphase Energy, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements related to the expected development, validation, product and technology capabilities, performance, response times, architecture, manufacturing processes and scalability, supply chain, regulatory compliance, commercialization, and timing of demonstrations and customer pilots for Enphase Energy’s IQ Solid-State Transformer (IQ SST). These forward-looking statements are based on Enphase Energy’s current expectations and assumptions and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements as a result of such risks and uncertainties. Such risks include, but are not limited to, Enphase Energy’s ability to develop, qualify, manufacture, validate, and commercialize the IQ SST and achieve the targeted technical and system-level performance, including conversion of AC to DC, eliminating local batteries, and anticipated response times; the ability to scale U.S. production and achieve targeted output, yield, cost, response times and performance using manufacturing processes and form-factor commonality with Enphase IQ Microinverters; the ability to secure components and cost of supply, including gallium nitride (GaN); the ability of the Kestrel ASIC, GaN-based power conversion, and distributed architecture to perform as intended; the pace and direction of the AI data center industry’s move toward 800 VDC and other changes in data center power architectures; customer adoption; ability to satisfy applicable regulatory and policy requirements, including domestic content and foreign entity of concern (FEOC) requirements; and complete timing of full-system demonstrations, customer pilots, and commercialization on the expected timeline; as well as competitive dynamics, execution risks related to entering new markets, and other factors discussed in Enphase Energy’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those risks described in more detail in Enphase Energy’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and other filings made from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Enphase Energy undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events, or changes in its expectations, except as required by law or otherwise.
Contact:
Enphase Energy
press@enphaseenergy.com
FAQ
What power-conversion capability is the IQ SST rack being developed to provide for AI data centers?
The IQ SST rack is being developed to convert medium-voltage AC directly to 800 VDC with sub-millisecond response to dynamic AI loads, helping reduce the need for local battery energy buffering near AI compute racks.
What voltage levels will the IQ SST architecture support on the medium-voltage side?
Validation covers operation at medium-voltage AC levels from 13.8 kV to 34.5 kV, along with full-rack electrical and thermal performance and power-conversion efficiency.
What key technologies are used inside each IQ SST power module?
Each module includes a proprietary high-frequency transformer developed in-house, gallium nitride (GaN) power-switching devices, and Enphase’s custom Kestrel ASIC, its fifth-generation control silicon that integrates high-speed control, sensing, communications, protection and security.
How does Enphase plan to scale manufacturing for IQ SST power modules?
The power modules share form factor and process commonality with Enphase’s latest IQ Microinverters, leveraging an established U.S. capacity of approximately 12 million microinverters annually. This high-volume model is designed to scale IQ SST power module manufacturing to tens of gigawatts annually.
Where will complete IQ SST racks be assembled and what supply-chain requirements are targeted?
Enphase plans to assemble complete IQ SST racks in Texas as full-system validation progresses. The IQ SST is being developed around Enphase’s U.S. footprint, with a domestic, scalable supply chain that is expected to meet applicable federal requirements, including foreign entity of concern (FEOC) requirements.
When are IQ SST rack demonstrations and customer pilots expected?
Full-system demonstrations of IQ SST racks are expected in November 2026, and customer pilots are planned for 2027.