Glossary · Electrical · Grid
kV — Kilovolt
Transmission voltage levels and why they determine data center power scale.
Definition
kV (kilovolt) = 1,000 volts. Electrical transmission grids operate at high voltages to minimise resistive losses over distance. The higher the voltage, the lower the current required to transmit the same power, reducing cable losses (Ploss = I² × R).
European Transmission Voltage Levels
- 110 kV — High voltage; regional transmission; large industrial consumers connect here (typically 10–60 MW)
- 220 kV — Extra-high voltage; inter-regional transmission; large consumers up to 100+ MW
- 400 kV — Highest standard transmission voltage in Europe; cross-border interconnections; hyperscale data center connections (100–500+ MW)
The Resita 400/220/110 kV Substation
The Transelectrica substation adjacent to the Resita Data site operates across all three major voltage levels: 400 kV, 220 kV, and 110 kV. This multi-voltage topology provides:
- Flexibility for data center connection at the appropriate voltage tier for the approved MW allocation
- Redundancy — the facility is fed by three separate 400 kV transmission corridors (2 operational, 1 under construction)
- Future scalability — the 400 kV connection point is capable of supporting hyperscale consumer loads if ATR results confirm capacity